Littering and Illegal Dumping

Littering and Illegal dumping is an offence under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (the Act) and therefore Council has power to investigate the matter and undertake enforcement actions, including issuing infringement notices, as well as compliance notices for the clean-up of the waste.

Littering

Littering is the unlawful deposit of any type of waste material that is less than 200 litres. These wastes can be of various types such as cigarette butts, drink bottles and fast food packaging, food scraps like apple cores, green waste such as palm fronds and grass clippings, fishing tackle, balloons, etc. The following type of activities would be considered as littering:

  • Leaving items beside an overflowing bin
  • Leaving items under your seat at a sports stadium
  • Leaving a newspaper on public transport
  • Releasing balloons at celebrations at a school
  • Material falling off a trailer because it was uncovered or poorly secured.

Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping is the unlawful deposit of any type if waste material that is 200 litres or more in volume. Commonly dumped items include household rubbish and garden waste, household goods (such as whitegoods, TVs, mattresses and furniture), building waste (construction and demolition materials), tyres, chemical drums and paint tins and asbestos. Leaving items on the footpath (outside of organised collection days) or outside a charity bin or shop is also classed as illegal dumping.