Throwing or dropping litter, even unintentionally, is an offence under the Litter Act 1979.
Registered litter reporters can report littering from a vehicle, including discarding cigarette butts and food wrappings, to the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
You can register as a litter reporter and report littering to the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
If you observe an emission or discharge of waste or chemicals into the environment, from a person, company, vehicle or tank, you can report the event to our Environment Watch service, including:
Reports may be made by the person who observed the event or the person or company whose activities caused the emission or discharge.
An occupier of a premises on or from which a discharge of waste to the environment has occurred that causes or is likely to cause pollution, material or serious environmental harm, has a duty to notify the Chief Executive Officer of the department as soon as practicable. You can read more about your obligations under the EP Act.
Some types of spills and discharges are managed by other state government agencies or authorities. You can use the information below to report to the responsible authority.
| Type | Contact |
|---|---|
| Pollution from vessels on the Swan and Canning rivers (oil or fuel spills or slicks) Damage to vegetation along the Swan and Canning rivers – Swan Canning Riverpark | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions(link is external) |
| Pollution from vessels within three nautical miles off the coast and marine oil spills Oil or fuel spills or slicks on the Swan and Canning rivers | Department of Transport – Marine pollution(link is external) |
| Emissions of refrigerants that are ozone depleting substances and/or synthetic greenhouse gases | Australian Refrigeration Council(link is external) |
| Misuse of pesticides | Department of Health(link is external) |
| Residential or small to medium business pollution-related matters | Local government – My Council directory(link is external) |
| Asbestos – residential demolition or illegal dumping of asbestos at residential properties | Local government – My Council directory |
| Contact | |
|---|---|
| Smoke from prescribed burns | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions(link is external) To view a list of prescribed burns and burn offs, and other warnings and incidents go to EmergencyWA(link is external) |
| Woodsmoke from domestic wood heaters (smoky chimneys) Backyard burning | Local government – My Council directory(link is external) |
| Smoky vehicles | Smoky vehicles reporting |
| Type | Contact |
|---|---|
| Sick or injured wildlife and snake removals | Wildcare Helpline(link is external) Telephone: 9474 9055 |
| Pest watch – detecting aquatic pests | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development(link is external) |
| Algal blooms | Our ALGALWATCH team on 6250 8064 (office hours) or email peu@dwer.wa.gov.au Your nearest Department of Water and Environmental Regulation office Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (for the Swan Canning Riverpark) on 9278 0900 |
| Fish deaths | FishWatch(link is external) 24-hour hotline Telephone: 1800 815 507 |
