Residents of Cumberland are being reminded there is no excuse to litter this Autumn as the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) launches the Don’t be a Tosser! campaign.
The Don’t Be a Tosser! campaign is one of many EPA programs that works towards the NSW Premier’s Priority of reducing the volume of litter in NSW by 40 per cent by the year 2020. Part of this campaign calls on the community to register to the ‘Report to EPA’ system and report littering from vehicles as it happens.
EPA Litter Prevention Manager, Sharon Owens, says while it can have devastating effects on waterways and the environment, litter has always a preventable problem.
“There is no excuse for tossing rubbish. If we all think about what we do with our rubbish and put it in the bin, litter can become a problem of the past,” Ms Owens said.
Mayor Greg Cummings welcomed a campaign to target drivers who litter, noting Cumberland was home to major arterial roads like Parramatta and Woodville Roads and in close proximity to the M4.
“We are calling on locals to register to report littering from vehicles so that they can help us reduce littering in our suburbs,” Mayor Cummings said.
“By having residents report ‘Tossers’ it sends a strong message that littering is not tolerated in our community and if you litter you will get caught.”
Since February 2015, more than 28,000 people across NSW registered with ‘Report to EPA’ to Report Tossers littering from vehicles. Over 38,000 reports of littering from vehicles were made, demonstrating that many members of the community care about keeping our environment clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.
To report littering from a vehicle you need to:
- 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
- make your report on the EPA website
- be willing to attend court as a witness, if required.
To find out more about the Don’t be a Tosser! campaign, visit www.epa.nsw.gov.au/dontbeatosser
