Highlands Regional Waste Management Group education programs manager Rosemary Angus said information received from the public about illegal dumpsites would lead to investigations to find the culprits. There might even

be closed-circuit television cameras installed to catch dumpers in the act.

She said the City of Ballarat spends about $35,000 each year cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish.

"Litter seems to breed litter, and a lot of people, if they see a site, think they will add their pile to it.

"There is systematic dumping on some sites that people are using regularly, so we are hoping this campaign will help us catch some repeat offenders."

Ms Angus said "anything and everything'' is dumped across the region . . . household waste, whitegoods, tyres, chemicals and car bodies".

She described such acts as "environmental vandalism" and said the new campaign, funded by the Environmental Protection Authority, would help people realise the damage they caused.

"They are too lazy to take their rubbish

to the transfer station and are not prepared to accept responsibility for it."

People can dob in a dumpsite until December 9 by going to www.hrwmg.vic.gov.au