Littering

Littering What is litter?

Litter is small pieces of rubbish, and consists most commonly of cigarette butts, food wrappers or containers, drink containers and takeaway food packaging.
Littering occurs when rubbish is placed on the ground or is allowed to be blown or washed into a public place. Therefore, allowing waste to be blown from a trailer or truck is treated the same as someone placing it on the ground deliberately.
Litter negatively affects our towns, rivers, parks, and reserves. Plastic litter can take many years to break down and is damaging to the environment.
The chemicals in cigarette butts can kill many insects and small animals that live in our rivers – animals that feed fish and local platypus. Glass bottles can be dangerous and even start fires during hot sunny weather.

Download the Littering fact sheet: Littering(PDF, 3MB)

How can you help?

It’s easy to prevent litter every day:

  • Put your rubbish in a bin
  • Take your rubbish with you if there is not a bin available
  • Keep a container in the car to collect rubbish
  • Put your cigarette butt in a butt bin, or ordinary litter bin when extinguished
  • Keep materials secured so they do not blow or fall from your car, truck or ute.
  • Report a Tosser using this link.

Click here for further information: Litter and Illegal Dumping

Litter Free Learning Program

Litter-free Learning Program

The Litter-free Learning Program supports schools to reduce litter, develop and implement litter prevention actions and empower students to become leaders in environmental stewardship. This hands-on learning program helps students understand the impacts of litter, explore real-world environmental challenges, and take meaningful action within their school community.

How the Program Works

The program follows the NSW Government’s Sustainability Action Process, guiding students through a practical, inquiry‑based learning journey. It includes four core lessons:

  1. Introduction to Litter – Students explore what litter is, why it occurs, and how it impacts their community through a place-based Picture Building Game.
  2. Litter Audit – Students conduct a school litter audit to identify hotspots and understand the litter patterns and behaviours impacting their school.
  3. Action Planning & Implementation – Students collaborate to develop, plan, and implement a litter‑prevention action specific to their school.
  4. Evaluation & Reflection – Students repeat the litter audit, measure change, and reflect on their impact and learnings.

Program Benefits

Through this structured learning program, students:

  • build environmental awareness and understand the consequences of individual actions
  • develop problem‑solving, data analysis, and critical‑thinking skills
  • engage in teamwork, leadership, and community participation
  • improve the cleanliness and sustainability of their school environment
  • take part in meaningful, real‑life environmental action, helping to inspire further action.

NSW Curriculum Alignment

The program is fully aligned with the new NSW Curriculum, including outcomes across Science, Geography, Mathematics, and HSIE. It supports syllabus requirements at both Stage 3 and Stage 4, ensuring teachers can integrate activities seamlessly into their existing programs.

Litter-free Learning Program Picture Building Game

Complete the form HERE to request a free copy of the Litter-free Learning Picture Building Game. Featuring place‑based illustrations by a local Bathurst artist and a facilitator’s manual to provide background information and instructions, this resource is a valuable tool that supports the Litter‑free Learning Program. It can also be used independently as a fun activity for all ages to inspire discussions about the behaviours and issues impacting our environment.

Download Litter-free Learning Program HERE(PDF, 1MB)

Education Guide Picture.jpg

 

 

Back to top