Report littering and illegal dumping
Littering and illegal dumping is a serious problem in Queensland. According to the Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index, Queensland is the most littered mainland state in Australia.
Queensland communities want and deserve a clean environment, without the health and safety hazards imposed by inappropriate disposal of waste. The presence of litter attracts even more litter—which attracts antisocial and illegal activities. For more information, see the fact sheet Why Preventing Littering and Illegal Dumping is Important.
With the introduction of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011, members of the public can speak out and report littering and illegal dumping involving a vehicle or a vessel.
This initiative will help minimise waste hazards on our environment, as well as dealing with the much broader social impacts of littering and illegal dumping.
If littering or illegal dumping was personally witnessed you can report it now.
Witnesses of littering and illegal dumping offences can request to have a reporting form mailed by contacting 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
The difference between littering and illegal dumping is determined by size and tougher penalties have been introduced accordingly.
What is littering?
Littering is a small amount of waste (less than 200 litres in volume—that is smaller than an average household wheelie bin). Types of littering from a vehicle or vessel include the throwing of items such as cigarette butts, plastic or glass drink bottles, fast food wrappers, apple cores, orange peels and other fruit, fishing tackle and bait bags. It also includes items falling off the back of a ute or trailer because of an uncovered or unsecured load.
Dangerous litter is any litter than can cause harm to humans, wildlife and property. This includes items such as broken glass left on footpaths or playgrounds, sharps or syringes.
What is illegal dumping?
Illegal dumping is the unlawful deposit of waste that—when viewed in its entirety—is greater than 200 litres (about the volume of an average household wheelie bin). Types of waste can range from bags of rubbish in public areas such as roadsides, parklands and private land to larger scale dumping of waste including building (construction and demolition) materials, household goods, abandoned cars, scrap tyres and hazardous waste.
What is unsolicited advertising material?
Advertising material includes any material that is used commercially for promotional purposes. It includes circulars, flyers, promotional matter, information or letters, newspapers, magazines and other publications distributed without a charge to intended recipients.
Common examples of advertising material include takeaway food vouchers, shop catalogues, magazines or newspapers, leaflets from real estate agents, refrigerator magnets or letters advertising the services of a tradesperson.
Advertising material (other than newspapers) is unsolicited if it is not addressed by name to an owner or occupier of the premises, or to a person who is lawfully at the premises from time to time. This includes material addressed ‘to the householder’ or ‘to the occupier’.
There are exceptions that apply to the delivery of newspapers.
See here for more information on unsolicited advertising materials.
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