One in three people in NSW have illegally dumped waste and recyclables in the past year. You know who you are.

It's that unwanted single mattress the kids have grown out of, the old TV it took 10 years to throw out, or the finally broken vacuum cleaner that never really worked anyway.

Illegal dumping costs one in 10 councils more than $500,000 a year. Credit:Stephen Wark

No longer wanted, or needed, common household items like these often end up on the footpath, down back alleyways or even in the bush.

Since 2004, NSW local government areas have reported an increase in illegal dumping, a problem costing one in 10 NSW councils more than $500,000 a year.