RIDstock is the annual capacity-building event for illegal dumping enforcement officers in NSW. It is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of those dedicated to enforcing compliance with the law on the prevention of illegal dumping. The event features presentations from NSW Environment Protection Authority staff, legal experts, councils and other public land managers, as well as interactive panels and networking opportunities. 

This year’s event took place on 29 – 30th October 2024 in Parramatta, and the Hunter Central Coast RID Program sent 21 officers from its 11 member councils to attend. For the first time, the opening day of the conference was attended by statewide environmental compliance (non-RID Program or Squad) officers, boosting numbers to over 120 attendees.

Key takeaways from this year’s event were the importance of ongoing training for all environmental compliance officers, the need for better collaboration between councils and public land managers (like National Parks and Wildlife Service and Crown Lands) and the increasing use of digital technologies in investigations and intelligence-gathering to help prevent illegal dumping.