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New Project Targets Roadside Litter Bugs

During the month of April, the Bass Highway between Anderson and Inverloch will be the first of only two roads in Victoria to trial a new roadside litter prevention campaign.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 21st April 2009 - Back to News

"Roadside litter, particularly drink containers and fast food packaging, is a major issue. In 2006-2007, almost 4,000 tonnes of litter was removed from Victorian roads by councils at a cost of $2.3 million," according to Mel Barker, Acting General Manager Sustainable Production, of Sustainability Victoria.

Local traders and the Bass Coast Shire Council are joining forces to educate travellers that littering from vehicles is against the law, attracts fines and is bad for the environment.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Councillor John Duscher, said the roadside is not a rubbish dump.

"We’re urging travellers to think before tossing litter out of their vehicles or risk being reported to the EPA Litter Report Line. Littering is against the law and people can be fined $227 on the spot or $4537 in court," Cr Duscher said.

"Traders along the stretch of the Bass Highway will target drivers and passengers with the anti-litter message at their stores, with roadside billboard advertising promoting the EPA Litter Report Line. Traders will be handing out personal cigarette butt ashtrays and key rings promoting the EPA Litter Report Line, as well as displaying signage to spread the message," he said.

Billboards advertising the EPA Litter Report Line will be displayed in four locations – Anderson, Kilcunda, Dalyston and Inverloch.

If the roadside litter prevention trials in Gippsland and Barwon are successful, the campaign could be rolled out across the state.

The community is being encouraged to report those littering from their cars to the EPA Litter Report Line on 1800 LITTER.

"If you see someone littering from a vehicle, note down the vehicle registration, make and model and log onto www.epa.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 LITTER to report them," Cr Duscher said.

Sustainability Victoria and the Victorian Litter Action Alliance are pleased to receive $84,000 funding from the National Packaging Covenant.

The National Packaging Covenant is a unique Australian initiative between governments, industry and community groups to divert packaging waste from landfill. This project is one of 60 the Covenant funds across Australia, worth a combined total of $80 million, to find better ways to make packaging sustainable.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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