Government targets roadside tossers during Keep Australia Beautiful Week
Tossers who litter roadsides will be the target during Keep Australia Beautiful Week, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said today.
"People who toss rubbish from their cars are directly contributing to the pollution of our environment, waterways and foreshores, putting our own health and the health of Victoria's wildlife at risk," Mr Smith said.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) estimates around 12,000 tonnes of roadside litter goes to landfill each year.
"Victorians hate tossers," Mr Smith said.
Already 45,000 Victorians are registered litter reporters, with their actions leading to Litter Infringement Notices being served on drivers and passengers for throwing litter from a vehicle.
An increasing number of Victorians are also signing up for the EPA's Litter Reporting iPhone App to report litter being thrown from a vehicle.
Since its release last December, more than 4,000 Victorians have downloaded the iPhone App.
The EPA found 80 per cent of Victorians believe it is appropriate to impose fines on those that litter.
"Victorians have had enough of tossers. Everyone has a responsibility to care for our environment and the Victorian Coalition Government makes no apology for getting tough on tossers."
Mr Smith said in addition to the high cost of clean-up and management, littering impacts heavily on the community bottom line.
"Councils spend a combined $1.7 million a year on removing roadside litter in Victoria, and if you add the cost of roadside litter to illegally dumped rubbish, then the impact increases to $4.6 million," Mr Smith said.
Today Mr Smith announced the Coalition Government's second round of Roadside Litter Grants where councils and public land managers across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne were eligible to apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000.
The Roadside Litter Prevention Grants are part of a broader $6 million Coalition Government strategy to reduce litter in Victoria's public places.
"We need to stay vigilant and I urge councils to apply for Roadside Litter Prevention Grants because they play a valuable educational and preventative role."
Mr Smith said the projects funded by the grants would also encourage Victorians to report litterers through the EPA Pollution Line, 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).
Funding applications are open now and will close on Monday 15 October 2012.
For further information go to www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
