Central Coast Council has distributed 2,500 reusable litter bags to local businesses in the vicinity of roadside litter hotspots in an effort to remind motorists to dispose of waste responsibly.

This is one approach Council has taken as part of a multi-pronged litter prevention project, to help protect and enhance the local environment.

Council Unit Manager Learning and Education, Beth Burgess, is encouraging motorists to utilise the bags that are available around the three roadside litter hotspots at Blue Haven Link Road, Somersby Industrial Park and Kariong M1 on ramp.

“Littering of single use containers and bottles has become and major issue in these locations as identified in the Central Coast Roadside Litter Project,” Mrs Burgess said.

“These bags provide motorists and their passengers a cleaner alternative to keeping containers, coffee cups and drink bottles without the worry about any leftover food or drinks spilling in their vehicles.

“Once motorists reach their destination, the bags can be easily picked up in one go for rubbish to be disposed of responsibly – the bags can then be rinsed and reused.”

The bags were purchased as part of a $36,000 NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Litter Grant to help tackle the growing issue of roadside litter on the Central Coast.

Grant funding has also gone towards the installation of roadside signs at each target site reminding motorists how to report littering from vehicles as well as 19 new dash cams in Ranger vehicles, increasing motorists chances of being caught littering.

Mrs Burgess emphasised the issue of litter is not one Council can tackle alone and urged all residents and visitors to make sure they are doing their part to help protect our waterways and valleys from plastics and pollution.

“Council are leading by example, monitoring and cleaning up target areas, providing free reusable coffee cups and increasing Ranger patrols,” Mrs Burgess said.

“We need the whole community to get behind this project to help stop littering and help preserve our local environment.”

Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/littering to find out where reusable litter bags are available, information on helping to prevent litter and how to report littering from a vehicle.

This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy, an extension of the current Mountain District Roadside Litter Project and supports Council’s promotion of the EPA’s Don’t be a Tosser campaign.