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How to Report Illegal Dumping & Littering in Brisbane
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No one wants to stroll in their neighbourhood and walk through a maze of someone else’s trash. Old furniture, broken appliances, or even construction debris, you’ve probably thought, “Why would someone do that?” Illegal dumping is an eyesore, but more so, it damages the environment, attracts pests and affects the community. Plus, the cleanup isn’t cheap, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars.
So, what can we do about it? If you’ve spotted rubbish where it shouldn’t be, here’s how to report it and what you need to know to make sure you are disposing responsibly.
What Counts as Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumping happens when someone leaves waste in a public place without permission. This can be anything from small-scale littering or tossing household junk on a vacant block to dumping truckloads of waste in parks.
Illegal dumping may look like:
- Household junk like mattresses, old furniture, or broken appliances abandoned on roadsides.
- Construction waste left on footpaths, empty blocks, or near waterways after a reno.
- Bulk rubbish dumped in back alleys outside commercial properties instead of through proper waste management.
- Abandoned white goods, like fridges or washing machines, thrown away on the side of the road instead of using a professional fridge removal service.
Brisbane City Council takes illegal dumping seriously, with fines of $322 for littering and $2,580 for illegal dumping offences. To keep our streets clean and neighbourhoods happy, it’s important to report it if you see it happen.
How to Report Illegal Dumping
Witness an incident? You can easily report it to the Brisbane City Council or fill out a littering and illegal dumping form.
You can also get in touch with your local council office or email illegaldumping@des.qld.gov.au. Want a copy of the online reporting form? Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Information to Include in Your Report
- Location of the dumped rubbish (street address or nearby landmark).
- Type of rubbish such as furniture, construction waste, or hazardous materials.
- Date and time the waste was noticed.
- Description of the offenders or vehicles if you saw the dumping in real-time.
Once reported, the Council will investigate and arrange a cleanup, especially for hazardous or large-scale waste.
Why Illegal Dumping is a Big Problem
Illegal dumping creates real headaches for the whole community.
Piles of rubbish become breeding grounds for pests like rats, cockroaches, and mosquitoes, bringing health risks no one wants to deal with. Chemicals from dumped waste can seep into soil and waterways, harming plants, animals, and even our drinking water. And let’s be honest—living near an unofficial dumping ground is dreadful.
Streets littered with broken furniture and construction waste can drag down property values and attract other illegal activities, making neighbourhoods feel neglected and unsafe. Along with the chemical and physical pollution, they are a huge fire hazard and accident risk. On top of all that, thousands are spent every year cleaning up illegal waste—money that could be used on developing parks, roads, and public services.
The good news? There are plenty of easy, legal, and affordable ways to get rid of rubbish without resorting to this.
Getting Rid of Rubbish the Right Way
Dumping waste is 100% avoidable—especially with the easy (and legal) disposal options available.
Use Rubbish Removal Services
A rubbish removal Brisbane team can take care of large, bulky items, household junk, and commercial rubbish removal in one go. This is perfect for home cleanups, office relocations, and business waste disposal.
Book a Bulk Waste Pickup
Brisbane City Council offers kerbside collection for large household items, but it only happens every two years and is scheduled by suburb—so plan ahead!
Arrange Office & Commercial Waste Collection
Businesses can sign up for office waste collection services to handle regular rubbish, paper, cardboard, and recyclables. This keeps everything under control, preventing waste buildup and reducing environmental impact.
Dispose of Construction Waste Properly
Renovating? Don’t leave debris by the kerb. Book a construction waste removal in Brisbane to take care of rubble, timber, bricks, or tiles.
Recycle or Donate Items
Many items—like furniture, appliances, and white goods—can be donated or recycled instead of irresponsibly dumped. Consider services that will take your trash to the proper recycling facility or look for services that might take it for free to sell them as secondhand goods!
The Aftermath: What Happens After You Report Illegal Dumping?
Once reported, an investigation will take place, and a penalty infringement notice may be issued to the offender based on the details in your report. Officials will then:
- Inspect the site: Assess the dumped waste and determine the best cleanup method.
- Remove the waste: If it’s on public land, the Council will arrange a cleanup.
- Issue Fines: If the dumper is caught, they can face fines.
Call us on 1800 811 046
Let’s Keep Brisbane Clean
Illegal dumping affects everyone. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or builder, doing your part helps protect the environment and keeps our city healthier and more liveable. If you need residential or commercial rubbish removal, skip irresponsible dumping—call Dump Runners, and we’ll do all the heavy lifting!
"Rubbish removal Brisbane" Why choose Dump Runners?
You know what you'll pay ahead of time
We are transparent with our pricing and don't hit you with unexpected fees or additional charges. View our pricing guide on our pricing page to get an idea, and we'll also provide you with an exact quote before completing the job.
Fast job turnarounds - same day & next day service
We're committed to being on time and are about your deadlines. We work efficiently to complete the job quickly, while ensuring we take the proper care and do things right - ethically and legally.
Price Competitive
We offer fantastic prices and excellent value. We offer decreasing rates - so the more you need removed, the cheaper you'll pay per item.
Committed to ethical disposal
We care deeply about keeping Australia beautiful and we are committed to helping this cause by taking care of your unwanted and broken items in the most ethically responsible way possible.
We are efficient - saving you time and money
From the way we pack and stack our trucks to our fast job turnarounds, we operate as efficiently as possible so you save time and money - and have don't have to pay for multiple dump runs that could be completed (compliantly) in one.
We'll recycle & donate whenever possible
We donate items whenever they can so that they can be reused for a sustainable future. And we recycle whenever items are recyclable for the same reason. We're doing our part to keep Australia beautiful.