{"id":"litter-regulations-1981","name":"Litter Regulations 1981","slug":"litter-regulations-1981","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":178791,"registerId":"wa-litter-regulations-1981-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Litter Regulations 1981","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nLitter Act 1979\n\nLitter Regulations 1981\n\nWestern Australia\n\nLitter Regulations 1981\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Terms used 1\n\n3. Recommended litter receptacles 1\n\n4. Damage to litter receptacle 2\n\n5. Interference with litter receptacle 2\n\n6. Domestic or commercial waste not to be deposited in litter receptacle 2\n\n8. Securing of loads 3\n\n9. Prescribed offences 3\n\n9A. Prescribed office 3\n\n10. Offence of adding to, or altering infringement notices 4\n\n11. Forms 4\n\nSchedule 1 — Litter creating public risk\n\nSchedule 1A — Prescribed offences and modified penalties\n\nSchedule 2\n\nAppendix\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 13\n\nDefined terms\n\n \n\nWestern Australia\n\nLitter Act 1979\n\nLitter Regulations 1981\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Litter Regulations 1981* 1.\n\n##### 2. Terms used\n\nIn these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\nlitter creating public risk means litter that belongs to a category of litter described in Schedule 1;\n\n public litter receptacle means a container provided in a public place for disposal of litter;\n\n Schedule means a Schedule to these regulations.\n\n[Regulation 2 amended: Gazette 19 Jul 1996 p. 3459; 11 Jan 2013 p. 43.]\n\n##### 3. Recommended litter receptacles\n\nFor the purposes of section 25 the use of litter receptacles of the following specifications is recommended —\n\n(a) a capacity of not less than 60 and not more than 200 L; and\n\n(b) all outer edges rounded or rolled; and\n\n(c) in the case of covered receptacles; openings that are readily identifiable and accessible; and\n\n(d) an outer surface coloured “golden yellow” in accordance with C356 — British Standard Colour Code 381c and bearing, in a contrasting colour, the symbol depicted in the Appendix to these regulations; and\n\n(e) the body constructed of galvanised metal of not less than .6 mm in thickness or other material of equivalent strength.\n\n##### 4. Damage to litter receptacle\n\nA person shall not —\n\n(a) wilfully damage or deface;\n\n(b) ignite the contents of,\n\na public litter receptacle.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $5 000.\n\n[Regulation 4 amended: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 43.]\n\n##### 5. Interference with litter receptacle\n\nExcept with the consent of the owner, a person shall not misuse or interfere with the proper function of, or detract from the proper appearance of, a public litter receptacle.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $5 000.\n\n[Regulation 5 inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 1996 p. 3459; amended: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 44.]\n\n##### 6. Domestic or commercial waste not to be deposited in litter receptacle\n\n(1) Except with the consent of a public authority a person shall not deposit any domestic or commercial waste in a public litter receptacle.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $5 000.\n\n(2) In this regulation —\n\n commercial waste means waste material of any kind generated by shops, offices, industrial premises, hotels, restaurants and hospitals;\n\n domestic waste means waste material of any kind generated by private dwellings and includes garbage, lawn clippings and old furnishings.\n\n[Regulation 6 amended: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 44.]\n\n[**7.** Deleted: Gazette 19 Jul 1996 p. 3460.]\n\n##### 8. Securing of loads\n\nA person shall not drive a vehicle carrying a load unless the load is so arranged, contained, fastened or covered that the load or any part of it cannot fall or otherwise escape from the vehicle in or upon any street or public place.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $5 000.\n\n[Regulation 8 amended: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 44.]\n\n##### 9. Prescribed offences\n\nThe offences described in Schedule 1A are those prescribed for the purposes of section 30 and the amount specified in that Schedule, directly opposite an offence —\n\n(a) in the column headed “**Penalty — Individual**” is the prescribed penalty in respect of that offence incurred by an individual, if dealt with under that section; and\n\n(b) in the column headed “**Penalty — Body corporate**” is the prescribed penalty in respect of that offence incurred by a body corporate, if dealt with under that section.\n\n[Regulation 9 inserted: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 44.]\n\n##### 9A. Prescribed office\n\nWhere opposite a public authority specified in column 1 of the table to this regulation, an office of that public authority is specified in column 2 of that table, that office is a prescribed office for the purposes of section 26(2)(d).\n\n**Table**\n\n| **Column 1**
**Public authorities** | **Column 2**
**Prescribed offices** |\n| --- | --- |\n| *[1. deleted]* | |\n| 2. Department for Youth, Sport and Recreation 2 | Manager of camps; Camps officer; Warden; Relieving warden; Groundsman. |\n| 3. Rottnest Island Authority under the *Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987* | A person designated under subsection (1)(a) of section 28 of that Act to be a ranger, or appointed under subsection (1)(b) of that section to be an honorary ranger for Rottnest Island. |\n| 4. Department of Parks and Wildlife | A person designated under the *Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act 2006* section 39 as an inspector |\n\n\n[Regulation 9A inserted: Gazette 13 Aug 1982 p. 3154; amended: Gazette 30 May 1988 p. 1847; 7 Apr 1989 p. 1035; 11 Jan 2013 p. 44; 19 Jun 2015 p. 2097.]\n\n##### 10. Offence of adding to, or altering infringement notices\n\nA person, not being an authorised officer, shall not make any endorsement on, or alteration to, an infringement notice.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $400.\n\n[Regulation 10 erratum: Gazette 17 Jul 1981 p. 2888; amended: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 45.]\n\n##### 11. Forms\n\nThe several forms set out in Schedule 2 are prescribed for the respective purposes for which forms are required by sections 26 and 30.\n\nSchedule 1 — Litter creating public risk\n\n[r. 2]\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 45.]\n\n| **Item** | **Category of litter** |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | Animal carcass or animal body part (other than as cooked food) |\n| 2. | Pill, capsule or tablet, or a blister pack that contains or is designed to contain a pill, capsule or tablet |\n| 3. | Container, whether empty or not, that is labelled or marked with any of the following warnings —
POISON
DANGEROUS POISON
CONTROLLED DRUG
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
FIRE AND EXPLOSIVE HAZARD
BURNS SKIN AND THROAT |\n| 4. | Container, whether empty or not, that is labelled or marked with any of the following warnings —
TOXIC
TOXIC GAS
RADIATION
BIO‑HAZARD
EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL HAZARD
FLAMMABLE GAS
FLAMMABLE LIQUID
FLAMMABLE SOLID
OXIDISING GAS |\n| | INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE
CORROSIVE
DANGEROUS GOODS |\n| 5. | Unexploded firework or flare or live ammunition |\n| 6. | Broken glass, or sharp‑edged metal or earthenware |\n| 7. | Motor vehicle body or motor vehicle part |\n| 8. | Refrigerator or freezer with door attached |\n| 9. | Lit cigarette |\n| 10. | Hypodermic needle or syringe, whether or not attached to each other |\n| 11. | Tyre |\n| 12. | Battery |\n\n\n[Schedule 1 inserted: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 45‑6.]\n\nSchedule 1A — Prescribed offences and modified penalties\n\n[r. 9]\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 46.]\n\n| **Item** | **Section or regulation** | **Offence** | **Penalty — Individual**
**($)** | **Penalty — Body corporate**
**($)** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1. | s. 23 | Littering creating public risk ................. | 500 | 2 000 |\n| 2. | s. 23 | Littering — any other litter ........................... | 200 | 500 |\n| 3. | s. 24 | Breaking glass, metal or earthenware ........... | 500 | 2 000 |\n| 4. | s. 24A(1) | Bill posting ................ | 200 | 500 |\n| 5. | s. 24A(2) | Bill posting on vehicle ....................... | 200 | 500 |\n| 6. | r. 6 | Depositing domestic or commercial waste in public litter receptacle .................. | 200 | 500 |\n| 7. | r. 8 | Transporting load inadequately secured.. | 200 | N/A |\n\n\n[Schedule 1A inserted: Gazette 11 Jan 2013 p. 46.]\n\nSchedule 2\n\nForm 1\n\nWestern Australia\n\n**LITTER INFRINGEMENT NOTICE**\n\n*Litter Act 1979* Section 30(1)\n\nNo. ........................................\n\nDate ......................................\n\nM ............................................................................................................................\n\nSurname (block letters) Other names in full\n\nADDRESS .............................................................................................................\n\nNumber and street Town or suburb\n\n..................................\n\nPostcode\n\nIt is alleged that at ................................. a.m./p.m. on the ..................................... \nday of ................................. 20.............. in the area of .......................................... \nyou committed the offence indicated hereunder by a cross (x).\n\n| | **Section or regulation** | **Offence** | **Modified penalty ($)** | |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | | | **Individual** | **Body corporate** |\n| ❒ | s. 23 | Littering creating public risk ................. | 500 | 2 000 |\n| | | [Description of litter deposited] ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... | | |\n| ❒ | s. 23 | Littering — any other litter ........................... | 200 | 500 |\n| ❒ | s. 24 | Breaking glass, metal or earthenware ........... | 500 | 2 000 |\n| ❒ | s. 24A(1) | Bill posting ................ | 200 | 500 |\n| ❒ | s. 24A(2) | Bill posting on vehicle ....................... | 200 | 500 |\n| ❒ | r. 6 | Depositing domestic or commercial waste in public litter receptacle .................. | 200 | 500 |\n| ❒ | r. 8 | Transporting load inadequately secured . | 200 | N/A |\n\n\nIf you do not wish to have a complaint of this offence heard and determined by a court, you may pay to an officer at the place specified on the reverse side of this form, within a period of 28 days after the date of service of this notice, the modified penalty set out in this notice.\n\n.......................................................\n\nAuthorised Officer\n\n[Form 1 inserted: Gazette 19 Jul 1996 p. 3460-1; amended: Gazette 8 Nov 1996 p. 6218; 9 Jan 2004 p. 89-90; 28 May 2004 p. 1836; 11 Jan 2013 p. 46‑7.]\n\nForm 2\n\nWestern Australia\n\n**WITHDRAWAL OF LITTER INFRINGEMENT NOTICE**\n\n*Litter Act 1979* Section 30(4)\n\nNo.\n\nDate / /\n\nM ............................................................................................................................\n\nSurname (block letters) Other names in full\n\nADDRESS .............................................................................................................\n\nNumber and street Town or suburb\n\n...................................\n\nPostcode\n\nLitter Infringement Notice No. ....................................... Dated ......../........./........ for the alleged offence of ....................................................................................... with penalty of ................................. is hereby withdrawn.\n\n(a) * No further action will be taken.\n\n(b) * It is proposed to institute court proceedings for the alleged offence.\n\n* Strike out that which is not applicable.\n\nAppointed by ....................................................................\n\n(relevant public authority)\n\nto withdraw infringement notices.\n\nIn the event of payment having been made you are entitled to a refund.\n\n[Form 2 amended: Gazette 20 Nov 1981 p. 4779.]\n\nForm 3\n\nWestern Australia\n\n**CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT OF AUTHORISED OFFICER**\n\n*LITTER ACT 1979*\n\nThis is to certify that ............................................................................... whose signature appears below is an authorised officer under the *Litter Act 1979* and is entrusted under that Act with the following area of jurisdiction .......................... \n\n\n| ..................................................................... | ............................. |\n| --- | --- |\n| Signature of CEO as defined in the *Environmental Protection Act 1986* section 3(1) | Date |\n| ...................................................................... | ............................. |\n| Signature of authorised officer | Date |\n\n\nThe authorised officer has the duties and powers conferred by the *Litter Act 1979*.\n\nThe penalty for failing to comply with a lawful requisition by an authorised officer or giving false or misleading information in response to a lawful requisition by an authorised officer is a maximum fine of $1 000.\n\n[Form 3 inserted: Gazette 7 Aug 2015 p. 3199‑200.]\n\nAppendix\n\n![]()\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *Litter Regulations 1981* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Litter Regulations 1981* | 3 Jul 1981 p. 2603‑5 (erratum 17 Jul 1981 p. 2888) | 3 Jul 1981 |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 1981* | 20 Nov 1981 p. 4779 | 20 Nov 1981 |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 1982* | 13 Aug 1982 p. 3154 | 13 Aug 1981 |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 1988* | 30 May 1988 p. 1847 | 30 May 1988 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 30 May 1988 p. 1823) |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1988* | 19 Aug 1988 p. 2960 | 19 Aug 1988 |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 1989* | 7 Apr 1989 p. 1035 | 7 Apr 1989 3 |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 1996* | 19 Jul 1996 p. 3459‑61 | 20 Jul 1996 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 19 Jul 1996 p. 3455) |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 1996* | 8 Nov 1996 p. 6217‑18 | 8 Nov 1996 |\n| **Reprint of the *Litter Regulations 1981* as at 30 Sep 1997** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 2004* | 9 Jan 2004 p. 88‑90 | 9 Jan 2004 |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Litter Regulations 1981* as at 19 Mar 2004** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2004* | 28 May 2004 p. 1836 | 28 May 2004 |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 2012* | 11 Jan 2013 p. 43‑7 | r. 1 and 2: 11 Jan 2013 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 12 Jan 2013 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| **Reprint 3: The *Litter Regulations 1981* as at 14 Nov 2014** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations 2015* | 19 Jun 2015 p. 2096‑7 | r. 1 and 2: 19 Jun 2015 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2015 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Litter Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2015* | 7 Aug 2015 p. 3199‑200 | r. 1 and 2: 7 Aug 2015 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 8 Aug 2015 (see r. 2(b)) |\n\n\n2 Under the *Alteration of Statutory Designations Order (No. 3) 2001* a reference in any law to the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation is read and construed as a reference to the Department of Sport and Recreation.\n\n3 The commencement date of 1 Mar 1989 that was specified was before the date of gazettal.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\ncommercial waste 6(2)\n\ndomestic waste 6(2)\n\nlitter creating public risk 2\n\npublic litter receptacle 2\n\nSchedule 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not available for analysis. No content was returned beyond a website error message and an Acknowledgement of Country."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was retrievable — the source page returned a 'no longer available' error","Cannot assess actual complexity without access to the text","Score of 1 reflects absence of content, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"## Litter Regulations 1981 (WA) — Content Unavailable\n\n**The actual text of this legislation could not be retrieved.** The page hosting the Litter Regulations 1981 (Western Australia) is no longer available at its previous web address due to system upgrades on the Western Australian legislation website.\n\n**What we can reasonably infer:**\n- This is a Western Australian regulation (subordinate law made under a parent Act, likely the *Litter Act 1979* (WA))\n- Dating from 1981, it would deal with rules around littering in public spaces — fines, enforcement powers, designated areas, and administrative procedures\n- It likely affects **all members of the public** in WA, as well as local councils and enforcement officers\n\n**To access the actual content**, visit the Western Australian legislation website (legislation.wa.gov.au) and search for 'Litter Regulations 1981' directly using the site's search or menu navigation."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Regulations have broadened and clarified enforcement and administrative scope since original enactment: they prescribe higher penalties and specific fines for several regs (see r.4, r.5, r.6, r.8 — fines stated at $5,000), introduce a schedule of prescribed offences with modified penalties (Schedule 1A; r.9), define \"litter creating public risk\" categories (Schedule 1), and identify prescribed offices for enforcement (r.9A) and an appointment certificate form (Form 3). These amendments expand the list of offences and the infringement/administrative framework under the Litter Act 1979."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple discrete offences with differing penalties (Schedules 1A and regs 4,5,6,8)","Tiered penalties for individuals versus bodies corporate (Schedule 1A)","Prescriptive technical detail (recommended receptacle specs in r.3 and Schedule 1 categories)","Infringement notice / modified penalty administrative scheme (r.9, Schedule 2 forms, s.30 cross‑reference)","Delegation and enforcement structure via prescribed offices and authorised officers (r.9A, Form 3)","Cross‑references to the Litter Act 1979 (sections 25, 26, 30) requiring users to consult primary Act","Amendment history and inserted/deleted regs increase interpretive detail for application"],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, these Regulations set technical standards for public litter bins, list categories of high‑risk litter, create specific offences (damaging or misusing bins, depositing domestic/commercial waste, unsecured vehicle loads, breaking glass, bill‑posting) and prescribe fines, infringement forms and modified penalties. They apply to members of the public, vehicle drivers, businesses and authorised officers. It matters because they define prohibited conduct, who may be fined and how enforcement is exercised, imposing compliance duties and potential fines under the Litter Act 1979."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain focused on their original purpose of operationalizing the Litter Act 1979. While amendments have updated penalty amounts, added specific categories of dangerous litter, and expanded the list of authorized officers, these changes represent natural evolution within the original scope rather than scope creep. The core functions—bin specifications, load securing, infringement notice procedures, and waste disposal rules—have remained consistent since 1981."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (11 regulations plus schedules)","Only 5 defined terms in the interpretation section","Minimal cross-referencing (primarily to the parent Litter Act 1979)","Straightforward prohibitions with flat penalty structures","Simple tabular format for offences and penalties in Schedule 1A","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Practical, prescriptive requirements (colour codes, dimensions) rather than abstract legal concepts"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the practical rules for managing litter in Western Australia under the Litter Act 1979. They specify what public bins should look like (golden yellow, 60-200 litre capacity), prohibit damaging bins or putting household/business rubbish in them, and ban unsecured loads on vehicles that could spill onto roads. The regulations also list specific dangerous items that count as 'litter creating public risk' (like syringes, batteries, broken glass, and animal carcasses) which attract higher penalties. They establish a system of infringement notices (on-the-spot fines) for littering offences, with different penalty amounts for individuals versus companies, and prescribe official forms for issuing and withdrawing these fines. Additionally, they designate which government officers (like park rangers and inspectors) have authority to enforce these laws."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/litter-regulations-1981","history":"/api/acts/litter-regulations-1981/history","analysis":"/api/acts/litter-regulations-1981/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/litter-regulations-1981/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/litter-regulations-1981/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/litter-regulations-1981/documents"}}