The Shire of Esperance encourages residents and visitors to help keep our natural environment clean and litter free. Litter is unsightly and can also cause injury to people and wildlife. Litter reduces the appeal of a place and can encourage further littering.
Throwing or dropping of litter, even unintentionally, is an offence under the Litter Act 1979. Dumping rubbish of any kind on any land not specified as a waste facility is also considered littering and attracts the same penalties under the Litter Act.
Fines for Littering
In Western Australia littering infringements can be issued by authorised officers including police officers, local government rangers and other officers employed by government departments that oversee the protection of the environment and waterways.
Ranger Services can issue fines for littering and illegal dumping with penalties starting at $200. If taken to court the maximum penalties for littering offences are $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for corporations or, in the case of offences against the litter regulations, $5,000 for both individuals and corporations.
For details about offences, penalties and reporting visit the Keep Australia Beautiful website.
Report Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is a particular type of littering where people go out of their way to dump their rubbish.
It includes waste materials that have been dumped, tipped or otherwise deposited onto land. Illegal dumping varies from small bags of rubbish in an urban environment to larger scale dumping of waste materials in isolated areas, such as bushland.
Report illegal dumping in Western Australia to the illegal dumping hotline on 1300 766 541 or contact Ranger Services.
If you witness anyone in the act of illegal dumping please report the incident to Ranger Services. You will need to provide as many details as possible - without placing yourself at risk, take note of as many details as possible including the date, time, location of the offence, description of the offender and a description of vehicle.
Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned vehicles can impact on the safety of the community.
Abandoning a vehicle is illegal. Under the Litter Act 1979 the responsible person could be issued an infringement and the Shire of Esperance may impound it.
An abandoned vehicle is:
- any unregistered or disused vehicle left in a public place
- any vehicle that has been in the same location for more than 24 hours
If abandonment of your vehicle is unavoidable you should leave a note with your contact details and the circumstances on your dash board.
Ranger Services will investigate and may remove abandoned vehicles in public places. To report an abandoned vehicle contact Ranger Services.
Abandoned vehicles are held for 60 days. If the legal owner does not claim the vehicle during this period the vehicles may be disposed of in accordance with the Local Government Act.