Littering and illegal dumping FAQs
- Why is littering such a problem?
- Why is the Queensland Government introducing a public reporting system for vehicle related littering?
- What other littering reporting systems exist in Australia?
- How does the new Act change the way littering offences are enforced?
- Who is an authorised officer?
- How will the public reporting system of vehicle-related littering work?
- What if no vehicle is identified and illegally dumped waste is found?
- What information is required on the report?
- What’s to stop malicious or vexatious reports being made?
- How is a PIN issued?
- Can a PIN be issued if the registration number is wrong?
- What happens after the registered owner receives the PIN?
- What happens if the fine is not paid?
- What if the owner of the vehicle is not the litterer?
- Can a person lose their licence for littering?
- Who receives the PIN if someone reports littering from a hire company vehicle?
- Who will receive a PIN if someone reports littering from a public passenger vehicle?
- Who to contact for more information?
Why is littering such a problem?
Littered waste has visual, environmental, economic, social and hazardous impacts on communities.
Visual impacts
Waste makes an area look dirty and uncared for and attracts more waste. Littered areas are not pleasant to be in and are less likely to be used by people. In contrast, people are more reluctant to litter clean areas.
Environmental impacts
Litter on land causes injury to wildlife. Waste dropped in our streets travels into the stormwater system and ends up in our waterways. There it pollutes the water and harms marine life. When marine animals mistake these items for food, they block their digestive tracts, killing them slowly and painfully. In addition, when creatures get caught up in plastic, they can become injured or strangled.
Economic impacts
Littering costs governments millions of dollars every year to pick up littered waste. It decreases property values and attracts rodents, insects and other vermin that pose a health risk. Also, if an item is littered it becomes a lost resource, going to landfill instead of being recovered and recycled.
Social impacts
The way a neighbourhood or community looks has a direct link to how safe and connected people feel. These feelings link to peoples’ quality of life. Research shows that people who live in clean places feel safer, use more leisure facilities in the area, report that their friends are more likely to visit the area, and generally have a better quality of life.
In littered areas, people are more likely to report feeling unsafe (whether or not the crime rates actually reflect this)—demonstrating the strong connection between littered waste and perceived neighbourhood quality. Littered areas are often a magnet for graffiti and billposting, and the risk of antisocial behaviour and crime increases.
Hazardous impacts
Sharp, protruding edges from broken bottles, aluminium cans and similar items can cause considerable damage—particularly when strewn around playgrounds, pathways and sporting areas.
Lit cigarette butts that are discarded have been proven to start fires, which damage public and private property, and can injure or kill people.
Why is the Queensland Government introducing a public reporting system for vehicle related littering?
- Queensland is the most littered mainland Australian state, according to the 2011 National Litter Index compiled by Keep Australia Beautiful.
- Nationally, the total amount of littered waste (counted by item and volume) recorded a drop overall. However, Queensland was the only state where both litter volume and number of items increased from 2010.
- Queensland is up three per cent in litter item numbers and five per cent in volume. By comparison Victoria, which has a public reporting system, was down 20 per cent in both items and volume.
- The biggest increases in Queensland littered waste were recorded at shopping centres and car parks (up both in volume and number), highways (up in number, down in volume) and recreation parks (down in number, up in volume).
- The Department of Transport and Main Roads estimates that road-users throw out around 20 000 cubic metres of rubbish along the roadsides each year.
- Cigarette butts were the item most frequently identified across all sites.
- The community voices its concern about littering to the government regularly.
- To provide an opportunity for the community to report people who litter.
What other littering reporting systems exist in Australia?
By far the most successful model is the Victorian Litter Report Line, allowing members of the public to report anyone they see littering from a motor vehicle by calling 1300 EPA VIC, (1300 372 842) or visiting the Victorian EPA website.
Western Australia has a litter reporting scheme through Keep Australia Beautiful Western Australia, where littering can be registered and reported online by visiting Keep Australia Beautiful Western Australia’s website.
In Tasmania, littering can be reported online by visiting the Department of Environment’s website or calling 1300 135 513 to obtain a Littering from a Motor Vehicle report form.
In New South Wales, litterers can be reported by visiting the Department of Environment’s website. However, an enforcement officer must witness an offence for a fine to be issued. Only an advisory letter can be sent stating they have been observed littering and providing information on the penalties that apply to littering.
Litter reports in the ACT can be made through Canberra Connect (13 22 81) or by faxing a litter report form to the city rangers. This process differs from other states in that each report is followed up by the rangers, before determining whether or not a fine will be issued.
How does the new Act change the way littering offences are enforced?
The new Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 strengthens the law to enable anyone to report vehicle-related littering and dumping.
Who is an authorised officer?
Officers from DERM and local governments may be authorised under the Act to enforce littering laws.
How will the public reporting system of vehicle-related littering work?
Anyone who witnesses a person littering or dumping waste from a vehicle, trailer or vessel can record the details of the offence and submit a report online through the DERM website.
Details on the report form required include the time and place, the vehicle’s registration number, vehicle details, and any other observations that could be helpful. Reports can also be made by mail for those people without access to a computer. Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) to receive a form (PDF, 74K)* in mail.
What if no vehicle is identified and illegally dumped waste is found?
Depending on where the waste is found it could either be local or Queensland Government responsibility. Please contact either your local government authority or email DERM.
What information is required on the report?
It is important that as much information as possible is included on the report, allowing DERM to assess the matter and issue a penalty infringement notice (PIN). To lodge the form online, the following information will be required:
- the registration number of the vehicle, vessel or trailer (or car towing the trailer)
- the type of vehicle—whether it was a vehicle, vessel or trailer
- which part of the vehicle the waste came from—e.g. the driver’s window, passenger side or from a trailer.
- where and when the littering occurred—e.g. time, place, street, name of park or closest jetty
- the type of waste that was littered—e.g. cigarette butt, bottle, paper, take-away container.
The following information will allow DERM to further pursue this complaint or present it in court if required:
- description of vehicle—e.g. a dark blue Ford station wagon or rusty red trailer
- whether the waste was thrown, dropped or wind-blown, or disposed of by another method.
What’s to stop malicious or vexatious reports being made?
If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of a report, DERM will not issue the PIN. Statutory declarations found to contain untrue statements or information will not be acted upon. It is a criminal offence to knowingly make a false statement and such statements may be referred to police.
How is a PIN issued?
When a littering or illegal dumping report is received from someone, it is assessed by DERM to ensure the information is correct and valid. The vehicle registration is verified and a PIN may issued to the registered vehicle owner.
Can a PIN be issued if the registration number is wrong?
Not under the provisions of publicly reported offences. However a PIN may be issued if DERM is aware of other information identifying a person as being involved in an offence.
What happens after the registered owner receives the PIN?
The registered owner can:
- pay the penalty amount within the time stated on the PIN
- elect to have the matter heard in court within the timeframe stated on the PIN
- lodge a statutory declaration to advise they were not responsible for the offence and the reasons why
- do nothing—DERM will refer the matter to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for management.
What happens if the fine is not paid?
If the registered owner of the vehicle does not pay the fine or respond to the PIN within 28 days, a DERM authorised officer will refer the matter to SPER to manage.
What if the owner of the vehicle is not the litterer?
The Act contains provisions for vehicle owners to identify the person responsible for an alleged offence. If the registered owner was not the person responsible for the offence, they can lodge a statutory declaration within 28 days of receiving the PIN to inform DERM:
- the vehicle was being used illegally (it was stolen) and provide a police report
- the identity of the driver
- an unknown user declaration stating the steps taken to try and identify the person responsible
- that the vehicle had been sold and provide the new owner details.
If the owner of the vehicle was the driver, but not the person littering, they can complete a statutory declaration nominating the passenger responsible for littering. Once the owner identifies another person, the PIN will be re-issued to that person—a process similar to red light camera or speeding camera offences.
Can a person lose their licence for littering?
Littering is not a criminal offence and SPER classes these matters as ‘simple’ offences, which generally means a person cannot go to jail or lose points from their licence for littering offences.
However, non-payment of a SPER debt may lead to cancellation of a driver licence.
Who receives the PIN if someone reports littering from a hire company vehicle?
The registered owner of the vehicle will receive the PIN and vehicle hire companies will treat littering offences the same way as speeding and red light offences. The company will nominate the driver by lodging a statutory declaration to DERM and the PIN will be reissued to the nominated person.
Who will receive a PIN if someone reports littering from a public passenger vehicle?
The only person that can receive a PIN for littering from a public passenger vehicle is the driver.
Who to contact for more information?
For further information regarding littering or illegal dumping offences please email DERM.
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Last updated 12 April 2012