Community & Business
1 September, 2023
Illegal dumping rises again
MORE than 11 tonnes of illegally dumped waste over a four-month period have Mareeba Shire councillors worried about who is responsible.
A total of three tonnes of illegally dumped waste was recorded through the shire’s transfer stations during July, 2.2 tonnes in June, more than two tonnes in May, and four tonnes in April.
Water and Waste manager Morris Hamill told councillors that 2.4 tonnes of illegal waste collected in July had been from “road litter” and 600kg was illegally dumped tyres on roadsides.
The figures do not include illegal dumping on State-controlled roads.
Mr Hamill said council suspected a small business may be responsible for the dumping of a number of tyres.
“It’s a bit of a mixture – a large number of motorbike tyres and a lot of passenger tyres – we’re not sure who or why they are dumping them,” he said.
“It may be some sort of small business rather than one of the larger tyre businesses who usually do the right thing.
“So, it sort of points to a small operator – I think for these amount of tyres, it’s someone living locally.”
Councillors want the public to report illegal dumping when they see it by calling the council on 1300 308 461, or report it online through the Department of Environment and Science’s website, or email a report to illegaldumping@des.qld.gov.au
