Litter is unsightly and dangerous. It can cause injury to people and wildlife, encourages pests such as rats, mice and seagulls as well as the spread of germs and disease.
Litter includes cigarette butts, dog litter, general litter, hard rubbish, hazardous waste, dumped rubbish and over-filled rubbish bins. It is an apple carelessly thrown out of the car window, a load that hasn't been secured properly on the back of a trailer or grass clippings that you sweep into the gutter.
Littering is a serious offence and heavy fines may be issued to offenders under the Environment Protection Act (1970) and the Whitehorse Community Local Law 2014 ( PDF 202.61KB). Council's Community Law Officers are authorised to issue on-the-spot fines to offenders.
Types of Litter and Waste
Dumped Rubbish
Dumping rubbish like old furniture, electronic items, tyres and other household waste on the footpath or other public land including reserves and parks is illegal. It is also unattractive and can make people living nearby feel that the area is unsafe and dirty.
To help keep our streets clean and tidy, Council provides residents with two free hard and green waste collections each year for items that are not accepted in weekly bin collections.
Council may issue fines to people found responsible for dumping rubbish.
Builder's Rubbish
Rubbish being left on nature strips outside building sites is prohibited in the City of Whitehorse. Council's Building and Works Code of Practice states a person in charge of building work must store all waste and material within the building site.
Cigarette Butts
Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter and it is not unusual to see large numbers of butts outside office buildings and at public transport stops.
Council has installed special bins for butts around local areas and at public transport stops. Contact the building manager about installing and emptying these bins outside the building where you work.
Carrying a personal ashtray is a good way of avoiding littering when bins are not available. Personal ashtrays are available on-line and from many tobacconists.
Bill Posters
Councils can spend more than $100,000 per annum cleaning up after illegally posted bills. It is an offence to post bills without the permission of the property owner under the Environment Protection Act (1970).
Offenders, including those who instruct others to put up bills illegally, can be fined.
Advertising Material
Advertising material must be distributed according to the law. At home, all mail deliveries should be left either under the door or in a letterbox.
If your letterbox has a 'no junk mail' label (or equivalent), junk mail should not be placed in it. Unwanted advertising material can be reported to the Distributions Standards Board on 1800 676 136.
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