Littering and Illegal Dumping

Littering and illegal dumping harm our environment, spoil public spaces, and create health and safety risks for the community. Everyone has a role to play in keeping Central Otago clean and safe.

Littering

Littering is when rubbish is dropped or left in a public place, or on private land without the landowner’s permission. This includes even small items — a single piece of litter can encourage more littering in the same area.

Littering may include:

• Small items such as bottles, cans, cigarette butts, or takeaway containers
• Small bags of rubbish (for example, less than two standard rubbish bags)
• Small amounts of building or renovation materials that fall from a vehicle

Littering is an offence and may result in an infringement fee if it occurs anywhere in the Central Otago District, including on private land without the owner’s consent.

Please note: Council is not able to remove rubbish dumped on private property. The property owner is responsible for arranging disposal.

Illegal dumping

Illegal dumping (sometimes called fly-tipping) is when larger quantities of rubbish or bulky items are dumped on public land.

Illegal dumping may include:

• Large household items such as fridges, mattresses, or couches
• Rubbish amounts greater than two standard rubbish bags
• Green waste or
• Dead animals
• Hazardous or dangerous materials such as chemicals, oil, or LPG cylinders
• Large volumes of building or renovation debris

Illegal dumping creates serious environmental, safety, and cleanup issues and is treated as a more serious offence.

Reporting littering or Illegal dumping

If you find dumped rubbish on public land, such as Council reserves or roadsides, please report it using Council’s illegal dumping reporting form (Link HERE). If you saw the dumping occur, include as much detail as possible.

If the dumped rubbish is hazardous or poses an immediate risk, please call Council on 03 440 0056 (available 24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Information to Include in a Report

Helpful information includes:

• The vehicle registration number (if known)
• A description of the vehicle involved
• The location, date, and time
• A description of the rubbish
• Whether the rubbish is causing a safety risk, blocking access, or contains hazardous materials
• A description of the person responsible, if observed
• Photos of the items and the location

What we do about illegally dumped rubbish

Council now has in place tools to penalise offenders who litter in our district, and which will see a safer and healthier environment for our community.

Council investigates reports of littering and illegal dumping and works to identify offenders where possible. Enforcement tools are in place to discourage illegal behaviour and protect our district.

Under the Litter Act 1979, infringement fees of up to $400 may apply for littering and illegal dumping offences.

Infringement Offences and Fee Structure

How You Can Help

Simple actions can make a big difference:

• Use public litter bins where provided, or take your rubbish home for disposal
• If a public litter bin is full, don’t add to it — take your rubbish home instead
• Let Council know if a public bin needs emptying
• Lead by example and encourage others to do the right thing

Together, we can help keep Central Otago clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.