Stop rubbishing your State forests

State Forests rangers will be keeping a close eye on illegal rubbish dumping in Bom Bom State Forest near Grafton.

Several large loads of rubbish, mostly household garbage, old furniture and white goods, have been left beside the road or further into the forest in recent months.

“What these people don’t realise is that State Forests crews are working in that area seven days a week,” said State Forests community forester David Wilson.

“We will be keeping a lookout for suspicious activity and noting car registration numbers.

“Bom Bom State Forest is a usually peaceful and pretty forest, but parts of it are now being despoiled by people trying to avoid council dumping fees.

“State Forests are available for recreation by anyone who chooses to visit them, but these ugly rubbish dumps are ruining some areas.”

Mr Wilson said individuals caught dumping rubbish were liable for fines up to $3,300, and corporations $5,500.

“We have had occurrences in a number of forests where such large numbers of whitegoods have been dumped that it could only have come from a commercial operator,” Mr Wilson said.

“State Forests has crews working in Bom Bom and other forest areas near Grafton through the week, with regular fire patrols at weekends.

“People who want to get rid of rubbish should do what most households do, take it to the nearest council dump, not make our forests an eyesore.”

Media contact: David Wilson on (02) 6652 0111.