Litter and illegal dumping

Learn about litter and illegal dumping, the penalties that apply and how to report it.

Definitions

Littering is the act of throwing or dropping any waste material, intentionally or unintentionally, on land that is not approved as a waste facility.

Illegal dumping refers to deliberately depositing waste materials on land not designated for waste disposal. It includes waste dumped, tipped or deposited in unsuitable locations, from small household rubbish to large amounts of waste in bushland or remote areas.

Plastic bottle and straw littered on the beach

Ways to report illegal dumping

Call one of these numbers to report illegal dumping.

Include as much detail as you can, such as:

  • The date and time.
  • The exact location.
  • A description of the person and any vehicle.
  • The type of waste.

Photos or video can help with investigations and prosecutions.

City Rangers: (08) 9405 5000
City Rangers after hours: 1300 138 393
Environmental Watch Hotline (24 hours): 1300 784 782

Offences, enforcement and penalties

The Litter Act 1979 regulates littering offences to help maintain a clean and safe environment. Authorised officers, including police and local government rangers, enforce these laws.

Penalties include:

  • Cigarette butt littering: $200 for individuals and $500 for corporations.

  • General littering offences: Up to $500 for individuals and $2,000 for corporations.

  • Court-imposed penalties: Up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for corporations.

If a littering offence involves a vehicle and the driver or offender cannot be identified, the registered owner may be held responsible unless another person is nominated.

For the full list of infringements, visit Keep Australia Beautiful’s Litter laws page.

Penalties for illegal dumping vary depending on the severity of the offence.

  • Under the Litter Act 1979, minor illegal dumping can attract a $500 infringement or up to $2,000 if prosecuted in court

  • Under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, more serious cases can result in fines up to $62,500 for individuals and $125,000 for corporate bodies.

A group of school children picking up litter

Adopt a Spot (Keep Australia Beautiful Program)

Individuals, groups and businesses are encouraged to Adopt-a-Spot in the City of Wanneroo and keep it litter-free.

How can you get involved?

  1. Choose your favourite site to do regular clean ups or organise a one-off clean-up; it could be your street, local park, waterway, bush trail, beach, roadway or wetland.
  2. Decide on an approximate date for your first clean up and invite your friends, family and neighbours to join you.
  3. Register your name or group and your site details on the Keep Australia Beautiful WA Adopt-a-Spot page.
  4. Wait for your registration email and clean-up kit from Keep Australia Beautiful WA. If you chose a one-off clean-up, you will receive bags only.
  5. Check back after your clean up via the online clean up report to receive your Adopt-a-Spot certificate.

Note: Enjoy free insurance provided by Keep Australia Beautiful WA for all volunteers. We recommend signing up for this coverage during registration.

Ready to make a difference? To find out more, including how to register, visit Keep Australia Beautiful - Adopt a Spot.