A dumped filing cabinet filled with tell tale paperwork has led WA's environmental watchdog to catch and fine a Perth man $10,000 for illegal dumping.
The Department of Environment Regulation's Illegal Dumping Program tracked down 27-year-old Iain Joseph Mintern from Joondanna for the crime after he tipped a truck load of rubbish in the middle of a Malaga road.
The load of household junk included a filing cabinet stuffed with paperwork, as well as furniture, garden waste, a bicycle and cardboard boxes.
The load was dumped in the middle of Camboon Road in Malaga on June 6 last year - and it didn't take long for DER investigators to track Mintern down.
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He had been paid by a Duncraig homeowner to properly dispose of the rubbish, and the filing cabinet contained paperwork listing the client's address.
Handing down the hefty fine, Magistrate Joe Randazzo said it was an unacceptable act of dumping on a roadway and the penalty imposed reflected the need for punishment and deterrence.
DER Acting Director General Dan Volaric said illegal dumpers should think again.
"This offender was paid to correctly dispose of unwanted household waste and instead decided to dump the materials right in the middle of the road, putting people's health and the environment at risk," he said.
"The case also saw the City of Swan spend nearly seven hundred dollars to clean up the site, which would have been borne by ratepayers if Mr Mintern had not been apprehended.
"To this aim, we will continue to patrol hotspots, work with our partners and monitor covert cameras across our State as part of our Illegal Dumping Program, which conducts around 220 illegal dumping investigations a year."
In addition to the fine, Mr Mintern was ordered to pay $685.28 to cover the cost of disposing of the waste and $742.50 in court costs.
Illegal dumping can be reported to DER's 24-hour Pollution Watch Hotline on 1300 784 782 or pollutionwatch@der.wa.gov.au