The offences came to light after household waste was found dumped in bushland at Saddleback Mountain, Kiama in March 2015.

Melissa Jane Allen, 44, along with her sons Aaron Windsor, 21, and Lachlan Ryan Windsor, 19, appeared before Magistrate Beattie where their guilty pleas were accepted.

Magistrate Beattie heard that the two brothers had attempted to start up a small business which included, among other services, the removal of waste.

The court heard that the business only carried out three waste removal jobs during its short life.

The waste removed during the provision of these services was taken back to the family’s Jamberoo home where it was sorted, some waste remaining at the home and the unwanted portion being placed on the council footpath outside the home.

The court facts revealed that the unwanted portion of the waste was then transported by unknown persons to bushland at Saddleback Mountain, west of Kiama, where it was dumped.

Magistrate Beattie commended the two men for attempting to start up a small business and acknowledged the difficulties faced by small business owners.

However, the Magistrate questioned why a simple phone call was not made to Kiama council to ascertain the correct procedure for dealing with this type of waste, saying the trio were naïve and ignorant.

Magistrate Beattie said that the legislation was in place to protect the environment, and that her judgment needed to provide a general deterrence to people contemplating committing these types of offences.

Magistrate Beattie said that the offences were not trivial and that a fine of $1380 would apply for each of the eight offences. She also awarded costs of $4000 against the three. Council's Illegal Dumping Compliance Officer David Waples said the community’s abhorrence of illegal dumping was reflected in the more than $15,000 in fines and costs ordered to be paid by the three offenders.