Illegal Dumping

State electorates: Broadmeadows, Greenvale, Kalkallo, Sunbury
Federal electorates: Calwell, Hawke, Maribyrnong, McEwen, Scullin

The Hume community needs dedicated State and Federal funding and subsidies to offset the increasing costs of clean-up, enforcement, and community education programs, ensuring councils can sustain proactive and responsive measures.

Why is it important to the community? 

Illegal dumping is a significant and escalating issue with serious social, environmental and financial consequences for communities across Victoria.

It matters to the community because:

• Rising clean up, enforcement and prevention costs place increasing pressure on council budgets and divert funding from essential frontline services.

• Dumped waste attracts vermin, increases fire risk, and can include hazardous materials that threaten public health and community safety.

• Rapid population growth, construction activity and large open land parcels make growth corridors like Hume particularly vulnerable, undermining orderly development.

• The issue does not respect municipal boundaries and affects councils across Victoria, requiring a coordinated, statewide response.

• Degradation of public land and waterways creates long term environmental damage and costly remediation liabilities.

• Persistent dumping in streets, reserves and open spaces reduces amenity, undermines community confidence and disproportionately impacts vulnerable neighbourhoods.

• Addressing illegal dumping requires strong Government leadership, sustained investment and system wide solutions.

What is the current status?

Hume City Council continues to take a proactive, multi layered approach to prevent and respond to illegal dumping, supported by significant and increasing local investment.

Current actions include:

• Response to thousands of illegal dumping incidents each year, including clean up and remediation to protect public safety and maintain amenity.

• Increased investigation capacity, proactive compliance patrols and targeted CCTV deployment at known dumping hotspots to deter repeat offending.

• A dedicated Waste Response Team delivering education, compliance patrols, hard waste checks, community engagement and referrals for investigation.

• Expanded access to free and low cost disposal options, including hard waste collections and tip vouchers, to reduce incentives to dump illegally.

• Delivery of the Keep Hume Clean campaign across social, print and outdoor channels to promote lawful disposal and community pride.

• Investment in a two-year behaviour change research project with BehaviourWorks (Monash University) to inform evidence based prevention strategies.

Despite these efforts, costs are projected to exceed $8 million in 2025–26, with pressures continuing to grow without additional State support.

 

Our community says

Michelle (resident)

“Every week I see a new pile of rubbish dumped near the wetlands. It’s so disheartening – it makes our neighbourhood look ignored.”

Sanjay (Dog walker)

“Illegal dumping is getting out of hand. Mattresses, broken furniture, tyres – people just leave anything on the side of the road now.”

Elise (Broadmeadows resident)

“I’ve reported three dumping sites this month alone. It feels like as soon as one gets cleaned up, another pops up a street away.”