Working Together for a Litter-Free City of Canada Bay

Working Together for a Litter-Free City of Canada Bay

We all want a cleaner city — let’s make it happen, together.

While most of us agree that littering is wrong, it still happens—sometimes accidentally, like when bins are full, or when we think food waste like an apple core will ‘break down’ outside. But litter, no matter the intention, harms our streets, parks, waterways, and wildlife.

When public spaces look neglected, more people are likely to litter. Litter not only affects how clean our city looks—it can also block drains, pollute the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour, and harm marine life that mistake it for food.

What does Council do?

Council provides daily cleaning, public bins, and graffiti removal services — but we’re also taking litter prevention to the next level.

In 2025, we launched the City of Canada Bay Litter Management and Prevention Plan 2025–2030, a five-year roadmap to reduce litter at the source — not just clean it up after the fact.

We’re focusing on:

  • Reducing cigarette butts, food packaging, and takeaway litter.

  • Installing smart bin sensors and surveillance cameras in hotspots.

  • Educating residents and businesses on how they can help.

  • Monitoring litter using new tools and data, and

  • Working with partners across the region to protect our waterways.

These actions are supported by over $400,000 in grant funding from the NSW EPA to deliver real, measurable results.

What can you do?

Every action makes a difference. You can:

  • Use the bin — every time. If it’s full, find another or take it home.

  • Join our ‘Love Your Place’ program, where residents adopt and care for a local street or park.

  • Take part in community clean ups each year. Clean Up Australia Day held each March and Spring Clean each September.

  • Talk to your local businesses about reducing packaging waste.

  • Report littering and overflowing bins via Council’s website or Customer Service.

Let’s work together to keep the City of Canada Bay clean, green, and beautiful — for today and generations to come.

Reporting Litter from Vehicles

Reporting Litter from Vehicles

Did you know you can report littering from vehicles? By doing so, you can help raise awareness, reduce clean-up costs and keep NSW clean. 

If you see someone littering from their vehicle, you can report them to the Environmental Protection Authority. Fines from $250 can be issued from your report. 

To report littering from a vehicle you need to: 

  • Be 18 years of age or over
  • Have actually seen the litter being thrown, or blown, from the vehicle
  • Be able to provide the vehicle registration details and the location where the littering took place
  • Report the incident within 14 days
  • Learn more about report littering from a vehicle here
  • To report littering from a vehicle click here.
Picnic Project in Cabarita & Macllwaine Park

Picnic Project in Cabarita & Macllwaine Park

In 2018 Council received a grant from the Environmental Protection Authority to launch the Picnic Project. The Picnic project aims reduce litter in Cabarita and McIlwaine Park. These regional parks with their pristine foreshore views are a popular destination for weekend picnickers.

As part of this project Council has completely renewed the bin infrastructure in both parks by installing 44 new bin surrounds. During the summer months Council Officers will visit the park to talk to people about litter and how to leave no trace. Picnickers will be encouraged to pledge to love these parks by putting their rubbish in the bin.  

Love Your Place Program

Love Your Place

The Love Your Place program is designed to encourage local residents, businesses and organisations to show pride in their community by taking an active role in the keeping your space clean and green. As a Love Your Place partner, you will:

  • Act as ambassadors at your nominated park or street
  • Organise a minimum of two community litter clean-ups a year
  • Report illegal dumping, graffiti, damaged facilities and anti-social behavior
  • Regularly visit your nominated site to monitor its upkeep and report maintenance requirements to Council. 

In return, to keep your nominated place clean and green, Council will provide you with:

  • Clean-up kit with first aid kit, trash pickers, gloves, rubbish bags and hi-vis vest
  • Educational material such as display posters, pamphlets and dog poo bags
  • Support and promotion of mini events
  • Commitment to Work Health and Safety. 

To find out more, download the Volunteer Information Package or email Council's Sustainability Project Officer. Love Your Place Volunteer Application Form.