Drop in illegal dumping rates

Illegal dumping has dropped by close to 20 per cent in the City of Stirling over the past three years.

In the 2017/18 financial year, the City collected almost 285 tonnes of dumped materials in local parks, streets, carparks, vacant lots and laneways. 

The following year (2018/19), the City’s waste team collected 271.6 tonnes of dumped materials, and that figure has dropped to 235 tonnes during the 2019/20 financial year. 

Over the past three years, the City has received an average of 415 reports about illegal dumping annually.

To reduce instances of illegal dumping, the City has heavily promoted its free on-demand waste services including mattress collection, e-waste collection, white goods collection as well as access to a free skip bin each year and tip passes.

The number of skip bin bookings during the past three years is on the up, giving residents an easy way to dispose of unwanted items such as furniture, floor coverings and household junk when it suits them. 

During the past four financial years, the City has collected and recycled a total of 7,523 electronic waste items, 26,310 mattresses and 16,448 white goods items.

City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin said promoting the City’s free on-demand waste collection services could be a key factor in helping reduce illegal dumping rates. 

“The fact that the amount of waste being dumped is on a downward trend indicates that residents are becoming more and more aware of the City’s free and convenient collection services that are available to them,” he said.

“When we collect e-waste materials, such as a TVs and computers, an incredible 98 per cent of materials are recovered and recycled, so it’s a great result for the environment and very easy to do as we come to you to collect these items.”

Open 362 days a year, the City’s dedicated recycling centre in Balcatta also offers residents the option to dispose of recyclables and reusable items, household hazardous waste, general waste and even car tyres.

Visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/waste for more information about the City’s waste and recycling services.