Reporting a litter offence
Reporting a litter offence

Reporting a litter offence

Last updated on 07 January 2022

Urgent requests

  • If you are witnessing illegal dumping currently in progress, please report it by contacting the City on 1300 4 CANNING (1300 422 664). You can call this number 24-hours a day for urgent/high priority assistance.
  • This will allow an Officer to respond with the highest priority.

What is litter/illegal dumping?

Litter is an offence under the Litter Act 1979 and is defined as any refuse that is discarded in an open or public place and can include:
  • any material that is thrown or allowed to fall or is blown from a vehicle (including cigarette butts)
  • placing waste in a reserve or public place
  • placing domestic or commercial waste in a public rubbish bin
  • bill posting - advertising material being displayed on any buildings, fence, furniture, pillar, tree, vehicle or other structure without permission from the owner
  • leaving of posting of advertising material in any unoccupied vehicle in a public place
  • any material not appropriately stored or secured on a building site that is allowed to blow or wash away.
Littering is an offence under the Litter Act 1979 and modified penalties can be imposed.

Rubbish on private property

  • Although the City may investigate and prosecute where possible, it will remain the land owners responsibility to remove the items or material where the offender cannot be identified.
  • If on vacant land, the land owner is required to make the report.

Unidentifiable items

Illegally dumped items that have no identifiable content and offences not witnessed are unable to be effectively investigated due to the anonymous nature of the items. Examples of items include:
  • fridges
  • ovens
  • dishwashers
  • mattresses.
If you are reporting unidentifiable items and you have not witnessed the offence, please click here to make a report.

How can I help?

  • You can help to reduce litter by becoming a Keep Australia Beautiful WA registered Litter Reporter and reporting offences on 1300 00 73 76 or Keep Australia Beautiful WA.
  • You can also refer to www.wastenet.net.au for information on free and safe disposal of unwanted household chemicals or hazardous materials.

Raise a request

  • To report a litter offence to the City, please click on the button below.
  • An Officer will take action within the next 48 hours.