Report littering

Report littering from a vehicle

Roadside litter is one of the most unnecessary and preventable environmental problems in NSW.

If you see someone littering from their vehicle, you can report them online using Report to EPA. Fines from $500 for an individual and $1,000 for a corporation can be issued from your report.

Report a Tosser!

Report a Tosser! is an advertising campaign which highlights the problems of roadside littering and encourages people to report littering using Report to EPA.

It sends a strong message to litterers that:

• their behaviour will not be tolerated
• anyone from the community can be a reporter
• litterers can be seen and fined for littering from a vehicle

To report littering from a vehicle you need to:

• have seen the litter being thrown, or blown, from the vehicle
• provide the vehicle registration details and the location where the littering took place
• report the incident online within 14 days using Report to EPA

Report a tosser with Report to EPA

Register to Report to EPA

The first time you submit a report you will be asked to register. You need to have your mobile phone with you to receive an SMS to verify your details. If you do not have a mobile phone, or are under 18 you will need to register offline.

Registering to report verifies your contact details. We may need to contact you to get more information if a fine is issued. If the offender chooses to have the matter dealt with in court you may be required to attend court as a witness.

Making a report

• Your health and safety are more important than reporting littering from a vehicle. Never use your mobile phone while driving, pull over or ask a passenger to record the details. Do not record the details if it affects your concentration or driving.
• If it is safe to do so, take a photo of the car, location and litter item. Never use your mobile phone while you are in control of a vehicle, this includes while you are stationary at traffic lights or in a car park.
• Make as many notes as possible about your observation, even if you don’t include them in your report such as:
  • the time you observed the littering
  • where you were going at the time
  • where you were in relation to the offender’s vehicle, for example, in your car behind the vehicle
  • who was with you and if they also saw the littering
  • the weather conditions at the time
  • how you recorded the littering, for example in a notebook, voice recording etc.
• Keep your notes, photographs, videos and any other evidence for one year in case the penalty notice is disputed, and you are required to attend court as a witness.
• Submit your report online with Report to EPA as soon as possible, and within 14 days of your observation.

Can I report advertising material?

You can contact your local council to report litter from discarded newspapers. Councils are authorised to take action about litter, but it is up to each council to decide if they will take action.