The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) together with Blacktown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, The Hills Shire, and Parramatta councils is encouraging residents to report littering from vehicles through the EPA’s ‘Report a Tosser’ portal, where offenders can be fined up to $1,000.
WSROC President, Blacktown Mayor, Brad Bunting said Western Sydney councils spend $31 million a year managing litter.
“That’s an avoidable cost our communities are forced to bear because of careless behaviour,” he said.
“That’s money Councils could be spending on fixing footpaths, upgrading parks, or improving local facilities, instead, it’s wasted cleaning up after litterbugs.
“If you see someone litter from a vehicle, take down the number plate and as many details as you can, then report it through the EPA website. If the offence is verified, the driver could be fined up to $1,000.”
Photos and dash cam footage can also be uploaded with a report. Once details are verified, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) may issue a fine of between $500 and $1,000 to the vehicle’s owner.
The ‘Report to EPA’ website portal is a quick, simple and safe tool for reporting litterers, which holds them accountable for their actions.
Over 19,500 Western Sydney residents have already registered to report litterers, leading to over $14.2 million in fines issued through public reports.
Fast food packaging, soft drink cups, coffee cups and cigarette butts are the most littered items in Western Sydney.
“All these items belong in the bin, not out the window. Cigarette butts are especially harmful,” said President Bunting.
“They are made of plastic, so they don’t break down and they stay in the environment for years. They wash into stormwater drains, release toxic chemicals polluting our creeks and rivers, and can harm aquatic life.”
To help keep Western Sydney clean, residents can register and report littering online via the EPA’s ‘Report a Tosser’ portal: https://reportlitter.epa.nsw.gov.au/s/.
Media contact: Chris Parsons, 02 9671 4333, 0421 744 728 or chris@wsroc.com.au
Images:
- Woman littering from vehicle (attached)
- VIDEO OVERLAY: Woman littering from vehicle being reported by bystander (at link
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/avvkb136jb1a1z7o8jhfi/Report-to-EPA-video.mp4?rlkey=w4dwe14cz3g2iacjzi4f8ghk7&st=n7rtkbx4&dl=0 )
