Illegal waste disposal means leaving waste at a place that’s not licensed to accept it. This includes:
- dumping
- tipping
- burying
- stockpiling.
It is illegal whether it occurs on public or private land.
Poor storage or handling of waste is considered to be a dumping offence.
Anyone can submit a pollution report online or call 1300 372 842 to alert us to illegal waste disposal.
Illegal waste disposal is a crime. It is pollution that impacts our health and threatens our natural ecosystem.
Clearing dumped waste costs Victorians around $30 million a year.
What waste is commonly disposed of illegally?
- industrial waste
- construction and demolition materials
- TVs, appliances and electronic waste (e-waste)
- furniture and mattresses
- garden waste and soil
- tyres
- chemical waste
- packaging
- old cars
- oils and paints.
Legal waste disposal
Information for households
View our how-to guides for information on legally disposing of different types of household waste.
Sustainability Victoria also provides information about safely disposing of:
Information for businesses
Waste duties apply to all businesses that generate, transport or receive waste. These duties specify:
- Waste classification
- Waste transportation
- Where it can be taken.
There are also special provisions for transporting waste.
WorkSafe provides information on how to manage contaminated construction sites.
Information for landowners
Farmers, private or public landowners must not accept material without an appropriate permission.
Check if you need a permission.
If you are a landowner, you are responsible for preventing uncontrolled access to your land that can enable waste dumping. This may include fencing or taking other precautions.
If you lease land to tenants, you may also be liable for contaminated material left on the property. This can apply even if you did not put it there.
For more information, read:
- What to do with farm wastes (publication 1049)
- Farm waste management (publication IWRG641)
- Illegal dumping alert – Avoid the dangers of taking fill material onto your land (publication 1512)
- Landlords and agents fact sheet: Storage and abandonment of waste (publication 1680.2)
EPA’s Illegal Waste Disposal Program
Our Illegal Waste Disposal Program aims to stop people and businesses illegally disposing of waste.Read more about reporting pollution
How to report litter from vehicles
How to report smoky cars and vehicles
How to report smoke in the air
Reviewed 24 February 2023
