Laws across Australia are very strict when it comes to littering, with most jurisdictions responsible for littering by environmental agencies.
- Anything that can be considered garbage can be fined for littering
- Even biodegradable items shipped from your ute can get you in trouble
- Fines can be big, especially if you’re driving a company car
Vehicles are a hotbed of littering. You’ve probably seen someone flick a burning cigarette out the window, and that’s most noticeable when you’re driving in the dark.
But even throwing biodegradable things out the window of your car – like apple cores or banana peels – you could still be fined. A police officer we spoke to suggested that motorists caught dumping any kind of trash from their vehicle would be fined if they were caught red-handed.
The best advice is to leave the trash in the car until you get somewhere you can put it in the bin. Because no one wants their piece of fruit to cost the price of a few pineapples.
And it might even be the case, if it’s your car but you weren’t driving it at the time and someone reports it for littering, then you, the owner, will still have to pay a fine. when you can prove it. is another person who dares to dodge the trash can.
Here is a summary of litter rules across Australia:
Victoria
Melbourne’s road litter regulation could be governed by Violation 2134, under Road Fees and Penalties 2020-21, which states that a $207 fine may be imposed for “Failing to Pick Up Items” dropped from the vehicle or placed on the road”.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Victoria has its own law, whereby fines for an individual can be up to “$370 for a small object in rubbish such as a cigarette butt or food packaging or $740 for a lit cigarette or other dangerous item. garbage”.
If you spill anything from your work vehicle or while acting on behalf of a company, you will be fined $1849 for a small object or $3698 for a burning cigarette or other hazardous waste. .
South Australia
Adelaide also has a rather tough stance on this issue. The City of Adelaide’s Resident Center states that “those found dumping garbage or goods may be subject to: on-the-spot fines of $210 to $1,000; taken to court and fined a maximum of $5,000 to $120,000.”
Furthermore, the state’s Local Disruption and Litter Control Act (2016) states that “vehicle owners are liable for criminal conduct involving or from that vehicle,” and that it is “up to the owner to claim, prove someone else committed the offence”.
Queensland
Brisbane’s laws on littering from vehicles (including boats) follow the same logic as other states.
Individuals and corporations can be fined $200 for “indiscriminate littering,” such as “throwing a cigarette butt out of a car window into a gutter; or food wrappers, bus tickets or food left on the ground; throw soft drinks cans, takeout food packaging or plastic bags from a car or boat; or items falling from the back of a ute or trailer due to an uncovered cargo load.” This can reach up to $3000 if the dispute is in court.
In QLD, there are also higher fines for “hazardous littering”, defined as “any type of waste that can harm people, wildlife and property”, such as “broken glass left in
a playground or a cigarette burning in the hay.” An individual could be fined $400, while a company could see that amount quadrupled. Take it to court and the maximum possible penalty is $4000.
New South Wales
In Sydney, the EPA regulates vehicular littering according to its own legislation and “the maximum fine for littering in general is 20 fines ($2200)”.
However, it is more likely that penalty notices may be issued, with Service NSW stating: “Fine fines ranging from $250 for an individual and $500 for a company can be imposed from witness statements”.
The state actively encourages residents to put their trash in the trash, and they can do so by following these directives:
Get a photo of the vehicle, its location and litter (if you have one) along with details about the litter, for example:
- The time you see it
- Where did you go
- Where have you been, in relation to the offender’s vehicle (e.g. in your car behind that vehicle)
- Who was with you and if they saw the littering too
- Weather conditions at that time
- How you record littering (for example, in a notebook or voice recording).
Australian Capital Territory
In Canberra, there are two different interpretations of the litter rule: for children, the fine is $75, but adults with similar behavior can be fined $186.
tasmania
Hobart’s rules include an offense known as “placing a single garbage item in public,” which carries a $181 fine. If you see someone littering their car, you can report it through the Tasmania EPA.
Western Australia
Perth has a few different litter penalties, with a higher percentage going to corporations (in brackets next to individual fines, below):
- Litter – cigarette butts (not burning cigarettes): $200 ($500)
- Litter – general: $200 ($500)
- Post invoice: $200 ($500)
- Parking bill: $200 ($500)
- Send residential or commercial waste to a public receptacle: $200 ($500)
- Shipping is not fully guaranteed: $200 (N/A)
- Littering that poses a risk to the community – including breaking glass, car parts, tires, syringes or burning cigarettes: $500 ($2000)
Northern Territory
Darwin seems to have no laws on littering from cars, but there is a Litter Act (1972) that states that “a person may not leave, throw, deposit or drop litter on, on, or from a Crown public places or vacant land other than authorized receptacles”. And if they do, they could be subject to a maximum penalty (15 units) of up to $2430.
Furthermore, however, if the matter goes to court and is “in the opinion of the court” the trash in question “has the potential to cause injury or endanger the health of a person using the public place.” plus or Crown vacant lot or damage to property, the court may impose a maximum penalty of 25 penalty units for the offence,” which means a $4050 fine.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
