Litter is any form of solid waste that has been left, through human activity, in a place it does not belong. The most common litter items are cigarette butts, fast food packaging, snack wrappers, beverage containers and paper.
Our Clean Cities Strategy aims to create spaces and places that are safe, well maintained, clean and inspiring. Clean places offer the community opportunities to be active and healthy. They also enable residents to value and experience the natural environment. Litter prevention is a key part of our strategy to enhance the wellbeing and amenity of the community and promote a clean and attractive City. It is also vital in protecting the health of local waterways as litter gets washed into drains during rain events.
We run a number of initiatives to reduce litter in our community, including:
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public education campaigns on litter prevention
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community clean-up events including Clean-up Australia Day
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employing street cleaners who routinely clean the streets and pathways
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issuing on the spot fines for littering
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running volunteer programs.
Below are typical littering offences and the Penalty Notice given for individuals:
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Littering a small item or unlit cigarette - $160
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other litter and litter from a vehicle - $500
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littering dangerous material (e.g. lit cigarette) - $1000
- depositing litter - more than 50 litres or 50 kilograms in or on a sensitive area - $2,500
- not complying with an authorised officer's direction to remove litter or waste - less than 50 litres or 50 kilograms - $250
- not complying with an authorised officer's direction to remove litter or waste - more than 50 litres or 50 kilograms - $250
- non-compliance with a clean-up notice issued for depositing litter or waste - $2,500.
For more information contact us on 9839 5300 or call the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage on 131 555.
Please note: Penalty Notices for corporations found guilty of the above offences are typically higher. Find out more on the NSW EPA website.
Report a tosser
If you observe someone littering from a vehicle, you can report them to the NSW Environment Protection Authority, which may issue the offender a fine of $500 or more.