Environment

Regional Illegal Dumping Squad

Dumped rubbish outside a residence RID Squads are a partnership initiative between the NSW State Government and Local Government where enforcement officers are employed to investigate illegal dumping incidents and prosecute offenders at a regional level, covering a number of Council areas.

The Western Sydney RID Squad was established in 1999 and includes Bankstown City Council, Baulkham Hills Shire Council, Holroyd City Council, Fairfield City Council, Liverpool City Council, Parramatta City Council and Penrith City Council.

The RID Squad uses undercover surveillance, night-operations and state-of-the-art technology to investigate the source of dumped waste and expose systematic dumpers. They have special powers to enter and search premises to investigate possible dumped waste.

Specifically the RID Squad aims to:

encourage a more strategic coordinated approach to dumping incidents
investigate incidents and taking action against offenders
organise clean-ups
track down illegal landfills
identify changes and trends in illegal dumping across a regional area
deter and educate community members about illegal dumping.

When illegally dumped waste is being investigated by the RID Squad, bright pink tape is placed around the material (like crime scene tape) in an attempt to notify residents that it is being investigated whilst also ensuring that the pile of waste does not continue to be added to by other members of the public.

Council, together with the RID Squad, encourages all members of the community to report any cases of illegal dumping. Even if you don’t see the dumping take place we can still investigate it! However if you are able to gather any evidence to help us identify the offenders such as car description/ registration, name and address, date and time of dumping etc. it would greatly assist our investigations.

To report an illegal dumping offence is easy! Simply contact the Western Sydney RID Squad on 4732 7446 or Council on 9840 9840.