After it was revealed that illegal dumping of asbestos occurred at the Euchareena and Elong Elong waste facilities, Dubbo Regional Councillors voted in favour of increasing penalties for those breaking the law.
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Four hundred cubic metres of general waste, including asbestos sheeting, was illegally dumped at the Euchareena Waste Facility in early June.
As a result, the facility was closed and won't be opened again until council has made the area safe at a cost of about an estimated $10,000.
Similarly, crushed asbestos was found in a dumped mixed load of demolition material at the Elong Elong Waste Facility in late 2018.
It cost about $7,000 to remediate the area before that facility could be reopened.
Councillors now want NSW Environment MInister Matt Kean to increase penalties for those breaking the law.
Illegal asbestos dumpers could currently be made to pay a fine of up to $2 million.
"These dangerous and cowardly acts of illegally dumping asbestos is nothing less than an attack on the health and safety of the local communities these facilities serve, and a danger to the health and well-being of those council staff working around the sites," mayor Ben Shields said.
"Let me be clear to those shonky operators or grubby individuals who think it's okay to come to our region with your dangerous and poisonous waste and dump at our waste facilities - you need to think again.
"Council has taken additional measures to monitor and regulate movements in and out of our facilities and we'll also be asking police to assist..."
After it was suggested by councillor Dayne Gumley, all councillors agreed to ask the state government to spend more money introducing another subsidy to make it cheaper for people to dispose of asbestos and discourage illegal dumping.
