THE state government has introduced a new litter prevention strategy and has urged Busselton residents to get on board.
Environment minister Albert Jacob said a 25 per cent litter reduced for the state by 2020 was the target.
The strategy will be implemented by Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
“This strategy intends to challenge and change the attitude of people who consider that littering is an acceptable behaviour. We have a beautiful state and we need to ensure the enjoyment of our environment is not spoilt by the thoughtless actions of litterers,” Mr Jacob said.
The City of Busselton ranger and emergency services coordinator Dean Freeman said littering was a problem within the city due to visitors and residents.
“Visitors and illegal campers who dump rubbish at roadside bins or leave it in the bush, but there is also a lot of rubbish that is related to our own community,” he said.
“Packaging from purchased goods and builder’s rubbish also forms a big part of this and this is due solely to people being too inconsiderate to plan around taking their rubbish to the tip.”
Mr Freeman said when the city was able to identify people who litter, rangers did issue infringement notices.
In 2014 there were 79 reports of littering with seven fines implemented.
The state government, through the council, will implement litter prevention activities under seven priority areas: research and data; auditing and evaluation; policy and legislation; public education, information and training; enforcement; physical intervention; and stakeholder responsibility.
