DOUG Wiggins of Glossodia is just one of many residents who believe the Hawkesbury is slowly but surely turning into an illegal dumping ground.

Over the past two weeks The Gazette have been sent photos of rubbish dumped along road sides, in parks, in secluded areas and non secluded areas. And the rubbish has ranged from a truck load of green waste through to all types if industrial and residential waste. Mr Wiggins said upon seeing the dumped rubbish he became angry.

"It's becoming one of those slowly increasing things," he said.

"And it's a shame because we live in a very beautiful spot.

"Almost every time you go to one of our tourist destinations you almost have to stop and step over some sort of rubbish.

"It just show some people have a lack of respect for the areas."

Since the beginning of July, Hawkesbury Council have raised tip fees from $97 a tonne in 2008/09 to $149.50 a tonne in 2009/10 to dispose of general domestic waste.

Manager of waste management Ramiz Younan said there were a number of reasons why the fees were increased. These include council paying the waste and environment levy of $52.40 a tonne of waste that goes into land fill to the Department of Environment and Climate Change, an increases to costs to operate and maintain the waste facility and maintaining and ensuring adequate financial reserves are available for future construction of the final landfill cell, and closure of old cells.

Mr Wiggins said there is "no doubt" that Council's elevated tip fees are contributing to illegal dumping throughout the Hawkesbury. He said council should particularly lower fees on green waste.

"When you consider green waste, council should almost be accepting it for a next to nothing cost" he said.

Hawkesbury Council mulch green waste at its Waste Management Facility which costs $15 a tonne to process and is available to be purchased by the community for $15. Council maintains that there is very little demand for mulch which is being produced on site, therefore council is not being reimbursed for the land fill levy charged to them by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.