The clean up cost of illegal dumping in Kwinana and Rockingham has greatly increased

Kwinana ratepayers forked out an astonishing $387,510 last financial year to clean up illegal dumping; in Rockingham, the cost is growing to more than $200,000 a year.

Despite hefty fines introduced in 2012, the unsightly garbage continues to plague local suburbs and bushland.

Among the most common dumped items are televisions, fridges, building and garden waste, dishwashers and tyres.

Dangerous items including asbestos and hazardous oils, paints and chemicals are also being dumped in public areas or vacant blocks.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said rubbish was often dumped in dead end roads, near skip bins and newly developed areas.

‘There’s potential hazard to both the public and City staff,’ she said.

Cr Adams said the cost to clean up the rubbish had skyrocketed.

‘The cost for the clean-up of illegal dumping has increased from $206,583 in 2009/10 to $387,510 in 2013/14,’ she said.

Cr Adams said the City used portable CCTV cameras in problem areas to catch offenders in the act and had issued eight infringements this year.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said both residents and contractors were responsible for dumping waste and it was not just a visual blight but posed serious environmental problems.

‘Illegally dumped rubbish can degrade the land around it and destroy plant and animal habitats,’ he said.

Cr Sammels said the City took a no-tolerance approach to rubbish dumping and recently launched its LitterBusters campaign, which includes recording people dumping rubbish to assist prosecution.