Regional illegal dumping squads and programs

RID Squads are regionally based teams that specialise in combating and preventing illegal dumping. The RID Officers work for local councils, working across council boundaries to co-ordinate dumping regionally. The squads and programs are co-funded by the EPA and member councils.

Working across local government boundaries, RID squads use a strategic, coordinated approach to prevent illegal dumping while focusing on particular issues in their region.

RID squads

  • identify and patrol illegal dumping hotspots
  • investigate illegal dumping incidents and take action against offenders
  • organise clean-ups
  • track down illegal landfills
  • identify changes and trends in illegal dumping across a regional area
  • deter community members from illegal dumping and educate them about the consequences
  • run joint compliance campaigns with the EPA, SafeWork NSW, NSW Police and other regulatory authorities

Areas RID squads cover

map showing Sydney Rid Squad areas
Sydney Rid Squad areas

Western Sydney RID squad

Blacktown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Penrith, The Hills, Blue Mountains  and Camden council areas.

Established in 1999, the Western Sydney RID squad has been targeting illegal dumping across the growing Western Sydney region.

Sydney RID squad

Bayside, Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River, Randwick, Strathfield, Sutherland and Waverley council areas.

Established in July 2015, the Sydney RID Squad combines the former Inner West RID Squad and the Southern Sydney Region of Councils to take a coordinated approach to dealing with illegal dumping.

Hunter and Central Coast RID Squad

Cessnock, Dungog, Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Singleton, Upper Hunter council areas.

This RID squad was established in 2014 to reduce the costs of illegal dumping and build capacity in the region. It covers a wide geographical area and works with councils and government agencies in the region to combat illegal dumping.

Regional illegal dumping programs

Regional illegal dumping programs (RID programs) involve council rangers from different areas in a region working together to combat illegal dumping.

Southern Councils Group RID Program

Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly council areas.

Each ranger is based at a council but operates across the region by sharing information and resources to prevent illegal dumping.

ACT–NSW Cross Border Program

ACT and NSW council areas: Queanbeyan-Palerang, Yass Valley, Goulburn Mulwaree and Snowy-Monaro.

This cross-border programs aims to implement a coordinated set of actions to prevent, detect and clean up illegal dumping in the ACT and NSW.

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