Opposition environment spokeswoman Peta Seaton said anti-litter laws should be toughened so people who dump waste on roadsides and bushland have their vehicle confiscated until fines are paid and the garbage cleaned up.

Ms Seaton was speaking after a visit to Sutherland where despite Carr Government promises to install spy cameras to identify dumpers, tonnes of building and automotive waste are piling up in bushland on local roadsides.

“When I visited a piece of bushland at the intersection of Australia and Illawarra Roads at Barden Ridge recently I counted nearly 50 car bodies, plus piles of carpet, construction waste, and household refuse including televisions,” Ms Seaton said.

“Some of the material looks like it has been brought by fly-by-night contractors, probably from other parts of Sydney, and dumped by the truckload.

“It is these people we need to target, and the biggest blow to them would be to lose their dumping vehicle,” she said.

“No truck, no dump.”

Ms Seaton said a similar idea from the Coalition to confiscate cars used by car-hooligans had had excellent results in places like Bondi, because it targeted the behaviour of car hooligans where it mattered most.

“Many fly-by-night dumpers take the risk of a fine in their stride, knowing they can pay it and carry on dumping. Many of these people charge commercial rates to take away waste, and rip off innocent citizens who believe their rubbish will be disposed of legally, and the truck load is dumped in bushland.

‘This is a rip-off all round, - for the community and the environment.

“By threatening to remove the vehicle from dumping offenders we can perhaps force some behavioural changes in more effective ways than just threatening a fine.”

Ms Seaton said the Carr Government must take this problem seriously and make sure patrols are undertaken in all parts of Sydney prone to illegal dumping, so offenders can be detected and prosecuted.

“The waste-land at Sutherland is a disgrace, and is dangerous to local people and an offence to the environment. We need to get serious with the handful of people who trash our environment for a quick buck,” Ms Seaton said.