Man fined $200 for dumping garden waste in bushland

Disposing of garden waste in bushland has earned an on-the-spot $200 fine for a Geraldton man.

The man and a female companion were spotted in Glenfield, in a vehicle towing a trailer filled with green waste, by officers from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

According to a news release from the department, the officers were patrolling an area in the suburb, north of Geraldton.

The officers approached the couple after the man was seen throwing several large branches from the trailer into bushland.

They issued a $200 littering infringement, advised the couple to take the waste to the Geraldton landfill site and followed them to make sure they complied.

A DWER senior investigator said there have been a number of dumping and littering offences in Geraldton in recent months and this incident would serve as a warning to would-be offenders that if caught there will be consequences.

Areas around Drummond Cove and Glenfield are known dumping grounds, including “Rum Jungle” which is being cleaned up in a joint initiative between members of the community, the City of Greater Geraldton and Keep Australia Beautiful Adopt-A-Spot program.

The program aims to stop littering and illegal dumping.

Illegal dumping can be reported to the Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782 or pollution watch@dwer.wa.gov.au or to City of Greater Geraldton rangers via cgg.wa.gov.au.