According to the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water, the most common form of litter is the cigarette butt. On average, Tamworth Regional Council issues over one hundred infringements for cigarette littering offences each year.
What is Litter
The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 defines litter as:
- any solid or liquid domestic or commercial refuse, debris or rubbish and, without limiting the generality of the above, includes any glass, metal, cigarette butts, paper, fabric, wood, food, abandoned vehicle parts, construction and demolition material, garden remnants and clippings, soil, sand or rocks
- any other material, substance or thing deposited in or on a place if its size, shape, nature or volume makes the place where it was deposited disorderly or detrimentally affects the proper use of that place, deposited in or on a place, whether or not it has any value when or after being deposited in or on the place
What are littering offences
On-the-spot fines (penalty notices or penalty infringement notices) can be issued for various offences. On-the-spot fines are usually issued for minor, one-off offences.
Different on-the-spot fines apply depending on the litter involved and the circumstances of the case:
- littering with a small item - $60
- littering with unlit cigarette or extinguished cigarette butt (excluding littering from a vehicle) - $60
- littering with lit cigarette butt (excluding littering from a vehicle)- $200
- littering from vehicle (any type of litter) - $200 individuals/$400 corporations
general littering (excluding cigarettes and littering from a vehicle) — $200 individuals/$400 corporations
- aggravated littering - $375 individuals/$750 corporations
- depositing advertising material in place or on vehicle - $200 individuals/$400 corporations
- causing or asking person to deposit advertising material contrary to Act - $200 individuals/$400 corporations
Is transporting an uncovered waste load littering
Yes, it is an offence to transport waste without having the load safely and adequately covered. See the following Cover Your Load brochure for more information.
What should I do if I receive a fine for littering
Further information about fines can be found at: