Littering, dumping and abandoned items

The City takes proactive measures to address littering, dumping, and abandoned items.

About littering and dumping

• Littering is the unauthorised disposal of all kinds of rubbish, refuse, junk, garbage, scrap, and  any articles or material abandoned or unwanted. Whether it is placed, put, left, dropped, thrown or is allowed to fall or be carried by wind and/or water and in any other place than an area set aside by a public authority. Penalties of up to $10,000 for corporations and $5,000 for individuals apply. 
• Dumping: is the unauthorised discharge or abandonment of waste, whether liquid or solid, in water accessible to the public, or any other public place. This includes toxic and dangerous waste and chemicals. Penalties of up to $125,000 for corporations and $62,500 for individuals apply. Reports of littering and illegal dumping are taken seriously and investigated by the City and partner agencies. 
• Obstructions: are objects that may create a hazard to, or restrict access for, pedestrians, motor vehicles and cyclists.

Report littering or illegal dumping

To assist the City to respond to your report, please record and include the following: 

• Time and date of when it happened 
• Contact details of the person or people who witnessed the event 
• Description of what happened 
• Location of where it happened  (e.g. roadway, bushland) 
• Description of the item(s) or type and quantity of waste 
• Description of the person(s) dumping the waste 
• Vehicle description (make, model, colour) and registration 
• Photographs or video footage. 

Report littering or dumping online

Investigation of dumping

The City will investigate all offences relating to littering and the dumping of illegal waste. Prescribed offences and penalties apply. For information on responsible waste disposal locations view the Waste Disposal Guide page.

Obstructions in public thoroughfares

Obstructions may occur in various public areas under the management of the City, including, but not limited to, verges, footpaths and thoroughfares. There are two types of obstructions: 

• Physical: examples of physical verge obstructions include, but are not limited to vehicles (including caravans, trailers, boats, trucks and buses), built structures (temporary or permanent), bollards, bricks, sporting equipment, rocks (including pea gravel), stakes and roped off areas. 
• Vegetation: while the verge is City property, it is the owner/occupier’s responsibility to maintain the verge treatment at ground level. In the interest of public safety, clear line of sight visibility should be maintained at all times for persons using or accessing the adjoining thoroughfare. Overgrown sharp or thorny plants may also create a hazard to pedestrians. Further information on permissible verge treatments can be found verges and crossovers web page.