Littering and illegal dumping
Council invests significant resources both in monetary and manpower terms in providing a region of which our residents can feel proud.
The action of littering and/or illegal dumping of waste is a rising concern for the Bundaberg Region, costing our community thousands of dollars in clean up hours every year.
Littering and illegal dumping of waste has the potential to cause health and safety risks for both people and the natural environment, as it can:
- provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitos
- block gutters and drains affecting the serviceability of this infrastructure and increase the potential for flooding and erosion
- enter into creeks, rivers and onto beaches, where it has the potential to harm and/or kill wildlife, for example: plastic waste can choke and suffocate birds and marine life
Littered waste does not include any gas, dust, smoke or material emitted or produced during, or because of, the normal operations of a building, manufacturing, mining or primary industry.
While the vast majority of residents across the Bundaberg Region dispose of litter in an appropriate manner there are those not willing to pay for the disposal of their personal rubbish and who add to community costs through illegal dumping.
Queensland's Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 provides everyone with the ability to report littering and illegal dumping.
Anyone observing instances of illegal dumping is asked to report the matter to Council on 1300 883 699, via our online form or from the Snap, Send, Solve app available for download to mobile devices. Please ensure you gather relevant details including the model and make of any vehicle involved, its registration number, the time, date and location of the alleged offence.
Laws and penalties
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (the Act) includes a range of offences for littering and illegal dumping, including:
- general littering
- littering from a vehicle
- dangerous littering
- illegal dumping
- failing to clean up waste
The Act defines what is to be classed as illegal dumping and what is to be classed as littering based on the quantity of the waste deposited.
| Waste descriptor |
Volume |
| Litter (cigarette butts, fishing tackle, fast food wrappers, etc) |
<200L |
| Illegal dumping (mattress, bath tubs, bulk items, etc) |
>200L |
Local Governments and the Department of Environment and Science (DES) have a shared responsibility for littering and illegal dumping enforcement. Authorised officers from Council and DES can issue fines and direction notices to offenders of littering and illegal dumping.
For further information regarding illegal dumping and littering please see the Illegal dumping and littering fact sheet.
Report an abandoned shopping trolley
The removal of abandoned shopping trolleys is a service that Council does not provide.
Retailers in the region have engaged the services of private operators to organise the removal of any abandoned shopping trolleys reported by the public.
When reporting the sighting of an abandoned shopping trolley please try to identify the retailer owner of the trolley so that the correct operator is notified, as per the table below.
If there are any items of waste at the site where the trolley is located please report the matter to Council on 1300 883 699 or via the Snap, Send, Solve app for investigation.
Report illegal dumping
Complete the online form to tell us about an illegal dumping.