Let's put litter in its place

Let's put litter in its place

Most of us believe littering is wrong, but at some point in our lives many of us will litter. Sometimes we litter by accident or sometimes we think we are doing the right thing but are actually littering, for example when you throw out an apple core or when you place waste next to a full bin.

Litter makes a place look dirty. Research shows that when an area looks not cared for, more people will litter there. Litter also damages the habitats of native animals. Wind and rain can easily move litter. Once in our waterways and eventually the ocean, litter causes a lot of damage to marine ecosystems.   

What does Council do?

Council provides services to keep our streets and parks clean such as cleaning, public bins and graffiti removal. Council is working proactively to prevent littering and aims to reduce litter in hotspots by 50 per cent by 2021. Read more about our Litter Strategy and scroll down to find out more about our current projects.    

What can you do?

We encourage you to do your bit to keep our City beautiful by disposing of waste in the bin.  In 2018 Council launched the Love Your Place program which is designed to encourage our community to take an active role in keeping our City clean and green. If you want to be more actively involved this program allows you to adopt a park or street and look after it with a group of people. Alternatively you could participate in Clean Up Australia Day which is held annually on the first Sunday in March.

Clean Up Australia Day

Clean Up Australia Day

Held annually on the first Sunday in March, Clean Up Australia Day is a national event to clean up litter from our environment. The event is supported by the City of Canada Bay and registrations open in November each year.

Clean Up Australia Day will next be held on Sunday, 2 March 2025. Come along and join us at Rhodes Foreshore Park on Sunday, 2 March 2025 from 7:30–11:30am. Please subscribe to our Sustainable Living Newsletter for updates on additional Council clean up sites. 

For more information, to register as a volunteer or to create your own site, visit the Clean Up Australia Day website and don't forget that every day is perfect to Clean Up Australia.

Reporting Litter from Vehicles

Reporting Litter from Vehicles

Did you know you can report littering from vehicles? By doing so, you can help raise awareness, reduce clean-up costs and keep NSW clean. 

If you see someone littering from their vehicle, you can report them to the Environmental Protection Authority. Fines from $250 can be issued from your report. 

To report littering from a vehicle you need to: 

  • Be 18 years of age or over 
  • Have actually seen the litter being thrown, or blown, from the vehicle 
  • Be able to provide the vehicle registration details and the location where the littering took place 
  • Report the incident within 14 days 
  • Learn more about report littering from a vehicle here
  • To report littering from a vehicle click here.
Picnic Project in Cabarita & Macllwaine Park

Picnic Project in Cabarita & Macllwaine Park

In 2018 Council received a grant from the Environmental Protection Authority to launch the Picnic Project. The Picnic project aims reduce litter in Cabarita and McIlwaine Park. These regional parks with their pristine foreshore views are a popular destination for weekend picnickers.

As part of this project Council has completely renewed the bin infrastructure in both parks by installing 44 new bin surrounds. During the summer months Council Officers will visit the park to talk to people about litter and how to leave no trace. Picnickers will be encouraged to pledge to love these parks by putting their rubbish in the bin.  

Love Your Place Program

Love Your Place

The Love Your Place program is designed to encourage local residents, businesses and organisations to show pride in their community by taking an active role in the keeping your space clean and green. As a Love Your Place partner, you will:

  • Act as ambassadors at your nominated park or street
  • Organise a minimum of two community litter clean-ups a year
  • Report illegal dumping, graffiti, damaged facilities and anti-social behavior
  • Regularly visit your nominated site to monitor its upkeep and report maintenance requirements to Council. 

In return, to keep your nominated place clean and green, Council will provide you with:

  • Clean-up kit with first aid kit, trash pickers, gloves, rubbish bags and hi-vis vest
  • Educational material such as display posters, pamphlets and dog poo bags 
  • Support and promotion of mini events
  • Commitment to Work Health and Safety. 

To find out more, download the Volunteer Information Package or email Council's Sustainability Project Officer. Love Your Place Volunteer Application Form.