We have all seen dumped waste. Some types of illegal dumping are easier to recognise than others.

Types of illegal waste reported

The two most common types of waste reported to us are household waste (19% of all waste reports) and liquid waste (17%). 

Some of the least reported types of waste are dumped tyres and batteries. They are a major fire risk that can contaminate our environment with harmful chemicals so, if you see any, let us know!

Waste reports lodged with EPA during the 2021-22 financial year

 

illegal waste dumping data

Waste that is easier to spot

Whitegoods and furniture stand out when they’re tossed. It's also fairly easy to spot when a business is dumping waste illegally.

Waste that is harder to spot

There are 3 types of illegal waste that can be more difficult to recognise.

Construction waste is often dumped on blank lots or other construction sites. Asbestos can be in sheets, blocks or present in a wide range of products. A pile of soil in a park may not seem out of place until testing shows that it is contaminated. 

While some waste is often harder to spot, these materials are dangerous for our community and difficult to remove from our environment.

 

If something looks out of place, report it online, or call us on 1300 372 842

The value of reporting

Because illegal waste isn't always reported, it is difficult to know if there are more cases of illegal waste dumping now than there used to be.

What we do know is that:

  • Victorians are increasingly reporting environmental crime,
  • Our ability to track hazardous waste is better than it has ever been.

Waste reports are increasing

Waste reports to us increased 14% in the 2020-21 financial year. They increased another 8% in 2021-22. These increases are likely to be linked to Victorians working from home and witnessing more cases of waste crime each year. For comparison, noise reports more than doubled in 2020-21 and increased by another 21% in 2021-22.

With more reports coming in:

  • Our officers have more data to link crimes and identify perpetrators
  • Our understanding of trends in waste crime improves.

 

Our goal is always to prevent harm from pollution and waste. So each illegal dumping report we receive helps us respond to waste crime. 


Report illegal waste dumping online or by calling 1300 372 842.

 

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Reviewed 12 February 2024