Seville Grove man fined thousands for dumping household waste

On the afternoon of 1 January 2020, remote surveillance cameras belonging to the Water Corporation captured images of a black Mitsubishi Triton with the tray lid open visibly showing household waste. The vehicle left the area a few minutes later with the tray lid closed. 
 
Later that day, the same vehicle returned with the tray lid open and again visibly showing household waste including a distinctive child’s shopping trolley. The vehicle was not captured leaving the area, however when the area was later searched the distinctive child’s shopping trolley was found amongst a large pile of waste on the ground. 
 
On 17 May 2020 the same black Mitsubishi was captured again on surveillance cameras, this time towing a hire trailer loaded with household waste. The vehicle and trailer left a short time later with the trailer empty of its contents.  
 
Johnson Percival Riley, 34, of Seville Grove, was subsequently charged with three offences of dumping waste under section 49A(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. 
 
On Monday 20 July 2021 he appeared in the Armadale Magistrates Court and was fined $8,000 and ordered to pay costs of $783.50. 
 
DWER acting Senior Manager Waste Operations, Cliff Bliss, said surveillance cameras were an invaluable tool in aiding the investigation and prosecution offenders. 
 
“The use of surveillance cameras has increased over the past few years with lots of bushland locations being monitored,” he said. 
 
“The maximum penalty for these offences for an individual is $62,500.”