COUNCILS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS SHARE ALMOST $1.5 MILLION TO HELP CURB ILLEGAL DUMPING

Environment Minister Mark Speakman today announced almost $1.5 million in grants to 37 councils and community groups to help clean up and prevent illegal dumping as part of the NSW Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

The NSW Government’s Clean Up and Prevention grants will help councils and community groups put education programs in place, identify illegal dumping hotspots, set up surveillance to identify illegal dumpers and install barriers to prevent dumping.

The grants also will help councils and community groups collect illegal dumping data to help identify trends and hotspots in order to inform future prevention, clean up and enforcement strategies.

Mr Speakman said illegal dumping caused harm to the environment, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean-up fees each year and was unsightly.

“As part of the Waste Less Recycle More initiative the NSW Government has dedicated $58 million over five years to combat illegal dumping with a combination of education, prevention methods and enforcement,” Mr Speakman said.

Grants ranged from $4,500 to almost $135,000 and the total value of all 37 projects equates to almost $2.5 million.

The Government’s $465.7 million Waste Less Recycle More initiative is a five year initiative designed to transform waste and recycling in NSW.

It includes funding for business recycling, market development, managing problem wastes, new waste infrastructure, and programs for local councils to tackle illegal dumping and litter.

For more information about the Waste Less Recycle More initiative and the Clean Up and Prevention grants visit: epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/WasteLess.htm.

The government’s Illegal Dumping Strategy outlines the government’s initiatives to curb illegal dumping in NSW. Details: epa.nsw.gov.au/illegaldumping/NSW-strategy.htm.