Central Coast Council has been successful in securing $36,000 in the latest Round of NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Litter Grants to help tackle the growing issue of roadside litter on the Coast.

The Central Coast Roadside Litter Project has identified three roadside litter hotspots at Blue Haven Link Road, Somersby Industrial Park and Kariong M1 on ramp.

Council Unit Manager Learning and Education, Beth Burgess said the project will provide an integrated approach to litter prevention including education and awareness, infrastructure, regulation and enforcement at each target site.

“This project is all about encouraging behaviour change and educating the community on how to report littering from vehicles,” Mrs Burgess said.

“The grant funding will be going towards clean-ups of target areas, roadside signs at each site reminding motorists how to report littering from vehicles to the EPA as well as installation of 19 dash cams in Rangers vehicles.

“There will be increased Ranger patrols in these areas, increasing your chance of being caught if you do litter.

“With the main litter identified as single use takeaway containers and drink containers, we will also be handing out 2500 reusable polyester tidy bags to local businesses.

“The idea behind them is motorists and passengers can keep rubbish with them until they are able to dispose of it responsibly and not worry about any leftover food or drinks spilling in their vehicles – the bags can then be rinsed and reused.

“Right now we are asking for businesses in and around the three target areas to come on board as partners to hand out the tidy bags.”

Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/litter for information on how businesses can register their interest.

Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, emphasised reducing litter was a key priority for Council.

“Littering of single use containers and bottles is a major issue for our environment and it is imperative we do something about it,” Ms Vaughan said.

“Thanks to this project we will see some tangible outcomes to address the current state of these roadsides as well as prevent it in the future.

“This is not something Council can tackle alone – we really need the whole community to get behind this initiative to stop littering in their own backyards and help protect our incredible and unique region.”

The project is an extension of the current Mountain District Roadside Litter Project and supports the Council’s promotion of the EPA’s Don’t be a Tosser campaign.

Littering from vehicles can be reported to the EPA online at epa.nsw.gov.au/dontbeatosser or via the Report to EPA mobile App - it is unlawful for drivers to use a mobile phone to record this information unless the car is parked and keys are removed from the ignition.

This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.