The Victorian Litter Strategy 2012-2014 was released at St Kilda beach today (January 2013) with a big Perspex box designed to hold 18m3 of litter (equal to the amount generated by 300 Victorians each year). A neat and tidy crew from Sustainability Victoria (SV) and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) handed out litter bags to the throngs in thongs attracted to the beach to beat the heat.
The Strategy outlines the Victorian Government’s continued commitment to reduce the problem of littering throughout the State, and key features include:
- Extending our Public Place Recycling Grants program to make recycling even easier for regional Victorians by improving and expanding the installation of recycling bins and signs.
- Increased emphasis on enforcement through doubling the fines for littering as of 1 January 2013.
- A public education campaign piloted this summer that provides Victorians with the knowledge they can have a direct impact on littering by educating and encouraging them to report litterers to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria.
- Providing grant funding for organisations to educate their communities about the impacts of roadside litter.
- Partnering with charitable recyclers, EPA, DSE and local government to address illegal dumping.