An initiative that began with two friends volunteering their time to clean up rubbish dumps in the bush around Ballarat is gaining momentum.
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A group of 27 people joined the clean up that is in its fifth week on Sunday and collected 70 bags of rubbish from the Yarrowee Plantation in Mount Clear.
More people are joining the clean up that calls itself 'Sunday Sweep' each week. 212 bags of rubbish have been collected in the five weeks since it started with founders Zac Budge and Matt Burch.
Mr Budge said volunteers were driven to action by feelings of frustration seeing the bush treated like a dumping ground.
"I think people are very frustrated with the rubbish. We are providing them with a solution," he said.
"Thank you to everyone who has gotten involved."
The team collects rubbish and disposes of it using donated tip vouchers, but is hoping to speak to City of Ballarat about future support.
Mr Budge's next goal is for volunteers to start the Sunday Sweep in a second location, perhaps another regional area like Geelong, Bendigo, Ararat or Warrnambool.
He has shown all the movement needs is a leader, someone to step up and organise it, and volunteers will jump on to support.
The Sunday Sweep clean ups have so far focused on known rubbish dumping hot spots in the Yarrowee Plantation, but Mr Budge is calling for community members to report other areas in Ballarat that are littered with rubbish.
He and Mr Burch will scope out new areas this week, including reported dumping locations in the Canadian Plantation, along the Glenelg Highway and Creswick Road.
City of Ballarat infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo told The Courier in May illegal rubbish dumping across Ballarat costs council about $85,000 per year which includes disposal costs, staff time, investigations and follow up.
The dumping of household or industrial waste on a site that is not licensed to accept it is an offence under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and can attract a fine of $7929, or considerably more if the case goes to court.
You can report illegal dumping to the City of Ballarat or the EPA if it is commercial quantities or extremely high amounts (measured in hectares).
Follow the Sunday Sweep page on Facebook for details of the clean up that will run from 7.30am on Sunday morning.
It is recommended volunteers wear enclosed footwear. Gloves and bags are provided.
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