Dealing with excess waste and dumped rubbish

Excess waste

Overflowing bins create an odour and litter issue that attracts pests and pollutes our environment. It is also an eyesore for your neighbours and the Waverley Community.

If you have excess waste, DO NOT leave it next to your bins as this is considered illegal dumping. Instead:

  • Compact the waste to fit into the bin, with a closed lid, or save it for the next service.
  • Break up cardboard so it fits in the recycling bin.
  • Arrange an additional Council collection service by completing this form.
  • Book a free clean-up collection: learn what we do and don't accept here.

By keeping your bins tidy and in order, you can help keep our streets clean and clear of rubbish. Here are some tips:

  • Clear your bins regularly to avoid odours.
  • Store your bins on your property, away from public access to avoid people using your bins
  • Separate out problem waste that may pose a risk to yourself and the waste collection crew: check our problem waste page to dispose of items that can't be placed in your kerbside bins.

Dumped rubbish

Dumped rubbish in and around apartment buildings is a nuisance and a safety issue for residents, cleaners and property managers. Residents may believe they are helping to share unwanted items or may simply believe it’s the responsibility of Council or the building manager to clean up the mess, however, this is not the case.

Dumping on public land is illegal under the Protection of the Operations of the Environment Act (POEO Act) and may incur a fine and dumping on common areas of strata buildings can lead to cost recovery measures.

Tips to keep common areas at your building clean and clear of dumped rubbish or litter:

  • Communicate regularly. It helps when owners or property managers communicate clearly to new residents or tenants. Dumping is often triggered by people moving in or out of a building who are unaware of Council’s services for collecting unwanted household items or how to book extra collections of cardboard for example.
  • Develop a welcome pack. Strata or property managers are encouraged to create welcome information for new residents or tenants including information about how to dispose of waste and recycling in the building and other Council services.
  • Consider implementing a strata by-law for waste management. Waverley Council has two templates for strata by-laws for waste management, one for Waste Disposal and another for Moving In/Out. These by-law templates are available to the Waverley community for free and support responsible waste disposal, deter dumping and facilitate cost recovery. Learn more and order here.
  • Encourage positive community and social norms. In doing so, you create a clean shared space that everyone enjoys. Council offers many opportunities to get involved in the community to learn about sustainable living, including reuse and repair workshops, litter clean-ups, and how to get rid of rubbish right. By raising awareness of the impacts of dumped rubbish and litter, your building community are more likely to keep it clean and clear of rubbish.
  • Place clear signage in common areas to indicate correct waste management practices. Request free signage and other educational materials here.
  • Consider using surveillance cameras in common areas to identify dumpers.
  • Participate in working groups hosted by council and other organisations to help develop solutions that benefit the whole building community

Council’s role in preventing and enforcing against illegal dumping.

Dumping on Council land is illegal and subject to fines under the Protection of the Environment Act (POEO). Anyone can report dumping for investigation using ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au

Learn more about Waverley Council’s approach to preventing and enforcing against illegal dumping here.

Listen: Podcast: Practical waste management tips from Waverley Council

In podcast episode 152 of Your Strata Property, Practical waste management tips from Waverley Council, Strata lawyer Amanda Farmer interviews Waverley Council’s, Sustainable Waste Manager, Beth Kasumovic.