SWAN residents say illegal dumping has reached a breaking point on Roe Highway as piles of household waste and hazardous asbestos roofing are left to rot along the main thoroughfare.

The makeshift tip, located at a truck lay-by along the highway, has transformed from an eyesore to a public health hazard, as scattered furniture, clothing, and drawers have now bled into the neighbouring nature reserve.

But it is the recent addition of broken asbestos sheeting that has set the community on edge.

Swan resident Ashley King, who frequents the area for exercise, said the site was growing at an alarming rate while authorities remain idle.

“The rubbish piling up and left to decompose along the major road is just terrible,” he said.

“I’ve contacted Main Roads a number of times about the issue, but it seems to just fall on deaf ears.

“It is sad to see a few people not take pride in their environment and ruin it for other residents, dumping rubbish wherever they think is convenient.”

Mr King said he was alarmed seeing the asbestos lying nearby to an Aboriginal community, as the release of fibres can pose a threat to pedestrians, wildlife, and the environment.

“The pile of asbestos roofing just sitting there is particularly dangerous, especially to people walking by like I do,” he said.

“What if kids from the nearby community went exploring and came across it? We shouldn’t have to live with it; the buck stops with Main Roads.”

Mr King said that while Main Roads has implemented designated signage to try and stop the dumping, the current measures are insufficient and alternative solutions are needed.

“Theres a ‘no dumping’ sign in the middle of the area with rubbish just piled up around it, obviously the solution Main Roads thought of is just not working,” he said.

“The community deserves a proper response from Main Roads about what they are planning to do about this.”

As reported in Gidgegannup residents demand action over illegal dumping (Echo News, January 23) similar frustrations were shared by Gidgegannup residents who blamed high costs at the waste management facility at Red Hill for a surge of dumping along Toodyay Road.

For residents living in the eastern metropolitan region looking to dump asbestos at the waste management facility, they can expect to pay $120 per tonne of asbestos waste.

Main Roads have confirmed they are investigating the matter.