What You Can Do

Ideas For Personal Action

Make sure your waste is secure in your bin or recycling container so that it cannot blow away and be washed into the stormwater system.
Pick up garbage instead of leaving it in the streets or gutters.
Sweep paved areas and pick up all the waste. Never hose litter, leaves or debris down into gutters and drains as it finally ends up polluting our natural waterways through the stormwater system.
When out and about, make sure your waste goes in the public bins, not beside it. Alternatively, take your litter home, especially when visiting parks and gardens. Wind and animals scavenging in bins can often inadvertently create litter. Carry a litterbag in your car for collecting rubbish.
Refuse plastic bags when you are shopping. Plastic bags are a common litter item and are dangerous to marine animals, such as dolphins, turtles, whales and fish, because they confuse them with jellyfish and eat the bags, often resulting in death.
Dispose of cigarette butts either in a bin, public butt bins or carry your own personal ashtray. Used film canisters make good personal ashtrays if you can't find one in the shops.
Pack a rubbish-free lunch with reusable plastic containers and water bottles rather than bags and drink boxes.
Put a 'no junk mail' sign on your mailbox.
Secure your load when transporting any materials to ensure they don't fly off.

Report Litterers to EPA Victoria's Litter Report Line

Unsolicited Advertising Material Hotline

Contact the Distribution Standards Board on 1800 676 136 to complain.

Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline

Call 1800 245 022 to report abandoned shopping trolleys.

Public Transport Litter

Report public transport litter to the Customer Feedback Line for Connex (trains) 1800 800 705 or Yarra Trams1800 188 166. Read the contract requirements and what to do if a satisfactory response is not provided: FAQ Public Transport Litter (40KB).

Litter Programs In Your Local Area

Find out about litter prevention programs in your area by contacting your Regional Education Officer in your local Regional Waste Management Group. Regional Education Officers are responsible for waste and litter education and programs in local communities.

Your local council may also be running local litter programs in which you can get involved. Many community groups-such as 'Landcare' groups, 'Friends' groups, Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria and life saving clubs-also run litter prevention activities as part of their general programs.

Many groups are involved in projects to clean-up litter. Sustainability Victoria provides support, information and resources to help groups initiate litter prevention projects to target the source of the problem, as well as cleaning up littered areas. Read more about planning a successful litter prevention program.