RESIDENTS can now use their smart phones to report any illegal dumping activity – anytime, anywhere – using the NSW government’s illegal dumping reporting portal. 

Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said people could report the type of waste, and its GPS location and upload photos once they had registered on RIDonline.

“The Environment Protection Authority (EPA), councils and Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) squads will then use this information to investigate illegal dumping incidents,” Mr Bromhead said. 

“The information people provide can lead to fines or clean-up notices being issued, which will help curb this unsightly problem in our community.” 

Mr Bromhead said RIDonline also would help the EPA and councils build a clearer picture of illegal dumping trends across the state. 

The portal opened to the EPA, councils, RID squads and public land managers in September 2015.  Since then more than 5,500 reports involving more than 20,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste across more than 70 local government areas, have been reported on the portal. 

Similarly, the EPA received almost 12,000 reports of littering from vehicles on the Report to EPA portal and subsequently issued more than 6,500 fines since April. 

The government has allocated $58 million over five years to tackle illegal dumping as part of the $465.7 million Waste Less Recycle More initiative. 

The penalties for illegal dumping are up to $15,000 in fines and potential jail time for anybody caught illegally dumping within five years of a prior illegal dumping conviction. 

To register visit: https://ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au.