Illegal dumping threatens local waste facilities

Goondiwindi Regional Council has warned that illegal dumping may lead to the closure of waste facilities in the region after an offence at the Inglewood waste transfer station.

Newly installed CCTV at the Inglewood facility captured the recent incident. Council has successfully identified the owner of the offending vehicle, and has issued the appropriate fines for illegal dumping and littering.

Deputy Mayor of the Goondiwindi region Cr Rob Mackenzie said there was no excuse for the illegal dumping of waste.

“It’s extremely disappointing behaviour,” said Cr Mackenzie, who holds Council’s Waste, Regulatory Services and Planning portfolio.

“It’s a selfish decision that not only incurs additional cost to the ratepayer, but risks the closure of the local waste facility to the entire community,” Cr Mackenzie said.

The Queensland Waste Levy came into effect in July 2019 and requires Queensland councils to demonstrate that it is collecting the levy from all commercial users.

As a result, Council had to make changes to the way it handles waste in the region to comply with the new levy – including the closure of the landfill sites in Bungunya, Inglewood, Talwood, Toobeah and Yelarbon. These have been replaced with transfer stations and better resource and recovery areas.

Waste facilities in the region are monitored by security cameras and illegal dumping may be prosecuted.

The Inglewood transfer station opened in April 2020 at the Inglewood - Texas Road site. A new weighbridge and gatehouse was also installed at Inglewood to measure and collect the Queensland Waste Levy for commercial waste.

“We are relying on the community to co-operate with the new arrangements,” Cr Mackenzie said.

“If not, Council will be forced to charge all users of Council waste facilities – including domestic waste – or increase the manned hours of the weighbridge, at significant cost to ratepayers.

“In this particular incident, the offender dumped their waste and raked it out onto the unloading bay in front of the transfer bins. It’s obvious they were not aware of the surveillance cameras at the site.”