Councils must get tough with illegal dump operators

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche has ordered local authorities to get tough with illegal dump operators as he announced a series of tough new fines and jail terms for offenders.

Invoking special powers under the Waste Management Act, Mr Roche said offenders will be ordered to remove non-inert material from unauthorised sites and forced to pay for its disposal in registered landfills.

But the opposition is sceptical of the directive, saying it is a pointless exercise unless the Government provides local authorities with more funds for enforcement.