A South West resident could be regretting some careless illegal dumping techniques after locals found household mail complete with full identifying details within the refuse.
A Leschenault resident's daughter walking in public bush along Forrest Highway northbound, just before Old Coast Road, found the fetid pile and went home to tell her mum.
Sick of dumping after several spectacular local examples recently, her mother went to the site to take photos and said she found an old bike, nappies full of faeces... and a landlord's letter, dated December 7.
It advises the addressee, a tenant of neighbouring suburb Australind, that her lease was up on January 11 and asked if she planned to re-sign.
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The rubbish suggests she opted to perhaps move house instead.
The Department of Environmental Regulation (DER) said it was investigating the incident.
"Identifying documents have, on occasion, been found among discarded waste, which provided a useful starting point for enquiries," a DER spokeswoman said.
"Examples where this has resulted in infringements being issued under the Litter Act 1979 include a rental receipt showing the tenant's name found among rubbish in suburban Munster, and a Pay As You Go taxation summary document found in rubbish in Nowergup.
"In addition, DER's covert cameras have assisted in aiding successful prosecutions regarding illegal dumping across WA."
One example involved Barry Bradley, a 34-year-old Clarkson man who was prosecuted and fined $7,500 after illegally dumping construction and demolition waste in Nowergup – an act that was captured by one of the Department's covert cameras.
The local mother said: "It's a beautiful bit of bush, full of wildflowers in spring, a really nice place to take your dogs walking or go running.
"This was just disgusting, and it's not the first time.
"Six weeks ago, a car was taken in there and set alight, burnt to the ground. I'm a volunteer ambulance officer who was heavily involved in the recent Yarloop fires, so it's awful to have someone do that so close to our house."
There had also been a huge pile of refuse including whitegoods dumped recently near the Old Coast Road turnoff and on another recent occasion, removal boxes full of grass clippings dumped along the path.
Harvey Shire chief executive Shane Collie said the area was a convenient stop-off from the highway northbound for people wanting a quick solution to their rubbish problems, hence the frequent issues.
"All the way back to Perth from the south it's noticeable that the highways are littered. It's just terrible. People just do the wrong thing," he said.
Illegal dumping can attract a fine of $200 or, if taken to court, up to $62,500 for individuals and $125,000 for corporations.
Samuel Gossage of Thornlie attracted a $10,000 fine a year ago after DER traced him through a McDonald's receipt he discarded amongst asbestos fencing in a national park.
To report illegal dumping, call DER's 24-hour pollution watch hotline on 1300 784 782.
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