A 25-year-old Rutherford woman has been ordered to clean up waste found dumped at Melville Ford in Maitland.

Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad Investigators formally interviewed the woman regarding two dumps of household waste in a remote bushland area, fining her $4000.

The offender was required to clean up the waste, take it to a lawful waste facility and provide waste disposal receipts.

The use of surveillance cameras to detect illegal dumping offenders has increased in the Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Central Coast areas resulting in the issuing of several large fines.

Coordinator of the Hunter/Central Coast Regional Illegal Dumping Squad, Rob Robertson said fines start at $2000.

“We know the majority of people do the right thing when it comes to disposing their waste.

“The message is, if you choose to illegally dump your waste, we have a highly experienced team whose focus is to catch you.

“Fines start at $2000, so consider your options and make the smart choice.”

The Regional Illegal Dumping Squad is a joint program between local councils and the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, funded by the Waste Levy.