Camden Council has been awarded $50,000 in funding under Round Two of the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) Illegal Dumping Prevention Program.

The NSW Government has rolled out more than $4 million to help councils, businesses, community groups, and public land managers tackle illegal dumping and help protect our local environments.

This initiative is part of the EPA’s NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041, funded from the waste levy, which aims to address illegal dumping across the state through targeted prevention measures.

The newly funded project will focus on reducing illegal dumping in the Leppington area by implementing a combination of surveillance, enforcement and the monitoring of illegal dumping activities.

Illegally dumped waste can result in on-the-spot fines and penalties ranging from $1,000 to $4 million and/or a seven-year prison sentence for serious offenders.

Mayor of Camden Ashleigh Cagney said, “There is no excuse for illegal dumping and those who do will face these heavy fines.

“To support the surveillance cameras, we will also provide an education and signage campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of illegal dumping and encourage responsible disposal practices within the community.

“Poor waste management and illegal dumping near waterways and bushland contaminate our water and soil and this consequently causes a domino effect in our local environment,” Mayor Cagney said.

“Pollutants can poison and destroy the growth of our plants, trees and vegetation, and kill native wildlife, especially birds. They are known to eat waste pollution, especially plastic and this can block their gastrointestinal tract, leading to choking.

“Some of these rare species affected include platypuses, gang-gang cockatoos, sugar gliders, swift parrots, white-bellied sea eagles, large bent-winged bats and dusky woodswallows.

“There are 248 fauna species in Camden, and 22 native animals are threatened in NSW. We need to protect our wildlife in South West Sydney for future generations,” Mayor Cagney said.

NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Executive Director Programs and Innovation, Alexandra Geddes, welcomed Camden Council’s commitment to curbing illegal dumping with the support of this grant.

“Illegal dumping harms our environment, endangers wildlife, and creates health risks for the community. This investment empowers councils like Camden to confront these issues head on,” Ms Geddes said.

“By combining on-the-ground surveillance, enforcement, and community education, Camden’s project exemplifies the proactive steps needed to deter illegal dumping across NSW.”