Litter in our parks and public spaces is a problem. Not only does it affect the enjoyment of our parks and open spaces, but it has long-term damaging effects on the environment.
Litter doesn’t always stay in one place. Wind, rain and wildlife can move litter around. Litter from our streets and parks finds its way into the waterways in Greater Dandenong and then into Port Philip Bay and the ocean beyond.
Even small amounts of litter can be harmful to people, wildlife and the natural environment.
Did you know?
- A cigarette butt will take up to five years to break down
- A disposable coffee cup will take up to 30 years to break down
- A plastic soft drink bottle will take over 450 years to break down
Some items, like plastic, never really breakdown they just break into smaller pieces.
Council needs your help to keep the City of Greater Dandenong clean and free from litter.
Select the section below 'How you can Help' to discover other options you can help.
Bin it!
Always put your rubbish in a bin. If there is no bin, look for a bin nearby or take your rubbish home with you. Council will gladly accept your litter in our public bins or your household bins.
How do I report littering?
Littering is regulated under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and hefty fines do apply, so do the right thing and bin it or take it home with you.
Make a commitment to yourself, the community and the environment by always binning your waste. Set an example and never litter, if you see someone who does, call it out or report it to Council.
If you see someone littering before getting into a vehicle or from a vehicle, it is important to provide as much information as possible, including:
- Item that was littered
- The location of the littering
- The date and time you saw the littering
- Any identifying details such as vehicle make, registration and colour
Reporting litter within Greater Dandenong can be done via the options below:
Online
Telephoning Council
- Contact Customer Service on 8571 1000.
The Call Centre is open: Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm.
Call Centre diverts to an after-hours service at other times (emergencies only).
Visit Council in person
- Visit Council's Customer Service Centres and submit a hard copy confidential litter report form.
There are three Customer Service Centres within Greater Dandenong.
Reporting litter outside of Greater Dandenong
Please note: If the littering occurs outside of the City of Greater Dandenong, you can report to the EPA Victoria on 1300 372 842.
How you can help?
Always put your rubbish in a bin. If there is no bin, look for a bin nearby or take your rubbish home with you. Council will gladly accept your litter in our public bins or your household bins.
Here are some other things you can do to keep our parks, waterways and open spaces free from litter and protect the natural environment.
No Butts
Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item in Australia. Cigarette butts can make their way into our waterways. They contain plastic and toxic chemicals which take years to breakdown harming the environment and animals.
To make it easier to do the right thing, Council has installed ashtrays on public litter bins.
Pick Up After Pets
Your pet's waste is litter and carries bacteria that is harmful to humans and the environment when it washes into our waterways and bay.
Remember to bring a bag and put it in the bin.
Feed the Bins, Not the Birds
While it can be a pleasurable experience to feed birds, we must remember they are wild animals, and feeding can do harm to the bird. Feeding or leaving food such as bread, rice or food scraps is littering.
Enjoy watching local wildlife, but please feed the bins, not the birds.
Clean Up the Community
Putting your waste in the bin is the first step to preventing litter, if you're motivated to help the environment more consider picking up litter if you see it. There are a number of fun initiatives that you can become involved in, including:
