Coastal ecosystems are under increasing and expanding impacts from human activities. This drives change in the distribution and abundance of key coastal species, and has resulted in some native species becoming pests. The Australian white ibis is a key example of this, where coastal wetland habitat loss has resulted in the species becoming a pest throughout coastal urban landscapes, and their colonies causing significant damage to coastal wetlands. However, little is known about Australian white ibis ecology and their drivers of their distribution, and consequently management practices have been largely unsuccessful. We studied a combination of spatial and environmental factors in relation to ibis and ibis nest abundance. We found closer proximity to waste management facilities, and a smaller total area of urban land and wetlands significantly increased Australian white ibis abundance. Closer proximity to urban land, wetlands, and a smaller total area of urban land significantly increased nest abundance. Our results show clearly that connectivity with anthropogenic waste drives Australian white ibis populations in the coastal zone, and that improved waste management practices may reduce ibis numbers across coastal landscapes.