What you can do about litter
Litter can take many forms and have a range of effects. This page provides information that links together our actions and their environmental effects, and offers advice on how to reduce your litter and its impacts.
- Litter from cars
- Stormwater
- Garden waste
- Household chemicals
- Washing cars
- Dog poo
- Shopping bags
- Cigarette butts
- Community groups
- Litter left from recycling and rubbish collections
- Litter from landfills
- Junk mail
- Bill posters
- Public transport
Litter from cars
Report litter thrown from any vehicle by recording the registration, make, colour, model, location, date and time, plus a description of the litter.
Reporting online: Register to report OR Log in to reporting
Check the FAQ section below for more information about the online reporting system and litter reporting in general.
Report by Mail or Fax: Litter Report Form (PDF 403kB)
Fill in the form and mail or fax to EPA. Our contact details are on the form.
Litter reporting infoline: 1800 35 25 55
For more information or to have the reporting form mailed to you.
Stormwater
The stormwater system is designed to take rainwater from our guttering and streets into the closest waterway. Litter that is carelessly dropped on our streets is often washed into the stormwater system and can end up on our beaches and in our rivers. When you wash paintbrushes in the gutter, or pour oil or pesticides into the gutter, it flows directly into our stormwater system and into our waterways, polluting them and putting people and animals at risk.
If you see this or any other form of environmental pollution, contact EPA Pollution Watch Line.
Garden waste
Don't sweep grass clippings and garden waste into gutters. When it rains, waste is washed down into the stormwater system and ends up in your local waterways. It can also block stormwater drains, resulting in flooding during periods of heavy rain.
There are many things that you can do with garden waste, including composting, which will greatly reduce your need for water.
There are a number of sources of information on composting. Contact Sustainability Victoria – (03) 8626 8700 or 1800 353 233, Centre for Environmental Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES) – (03) 9387 2609, your local water board or garden centre for details. If you are unable to use your garden waste, check whether your council has a green waste collection.
Remember that your hose should not replace your broom. Permanent Water Saving Rules prohibit using water to clean driveways and pathways except in the case of accident, fire, or hazard to health reasons.
Household chemicals
Never pour chemicals into the gutter. Sustainability Victoria (03 8626 8700 or 1800 353 233) runs free Household Chemical Collection days throughout Victoria, which will accept most common household wastes, including oil, pesticides and batteries. Contact Sustainability Victoria or read your local press for details.
Washing cars (subject to water restrictions)
To prevent soapy water, mud, oil and grease from being washed into our stormwater drains, don't let the runoff enter the gutter when washing your car. If washing it on your lawn or nature strip, avoid strong detergents as these can damage the grass. Most commercial carwashes use recycled water.
Dog poo
Take a plastic bag or other suitable container to collect those little messages your dog leaves behind when you go for a walk. Just leaving them there is unpleasant for those who come after you. Many councils have local laws in place to combat this unpleasant problem on their streets and in their parks. Some provide special bags and bins in their parks.
Shopping bags
Plastic contributes significantly to Victoria's litter problem. Although plastic shopping bags cannot be recycled via domestic recycling collections, they can be reused. Often, large supermarkets have collection points for bags in their stores, and the plastic from these is recycled by the supermarket.
Cigarette butts
Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter and it is not unusual to see huge numbers of butts outside office buildings and at public transport stops. Many councils have 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 from Eco Safe Ash Trays (03 9459 1475) and from many tobacconists.
Community groups
There are many organisations that are involved in fighting litter. The Victorian Litter Action Alliance (VLAA) (03 8626 8795) co-ordinates Victoria's efforts to reduce litter. Keep Australia Beautiful (03 9484 2399) provides information on their local award programs. Clean Up Australia (02 9552 6177 or 1800 282 329) runs community clean up days and there are many small local groups who 'adopt' areas in their community. Your local council will be able to tell you of groups in your area. If there is no group in your area looking after an area of beauty or an area that may need some help, speak to your local council about how you can be involved.
Litter left from recycling and rubbish collections
Kerbside collections can result in rubbish accidentally being dropped in the street. If this is the case, collect what has been dropped to prevent it entering the stormwater system. If there is a large amount dropped or it occurs regularly, contact your local council.
Sometimes recycling collections will leave behind items that are not included in the recycling program. Contact your local council for advice on what is included in your collection. For advice on disposal of items other than those included in kerbside collection, contact Sustainability Victoria (03 8626 8700 or 1800 353 233) or the EPA Information Centre.
Litter from landfills
If you are experiencing a problem with litter coming from a local landfill operation or waste transfer station, you can report it to EPA Pollution Watch Line.
Junk mail
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 may not be placed in it. Unwanted advertising material should be reported to the Distributions Standards Board (1800 676 136).
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.
Public transport
You can report litter on railway lines to Connex, VLine or Vic Track (03 9619 1111 or 1800 800 120) who will be able to organise for the rubbish to be collected.
Report litter from a car
Reporting online:
Register to report
Log in to reporting
Report by mail or fax:
Litter Report Form (PDF 403kB). Fill in the form and mail or fax (details on form).
Litter reporting infoline:
1800 35 25 55