Western Australia has recorded a 38 per cent reduction in littering from 2008 and is at its lowest level in nine years, according to the 2013-14 National Litter Index.
Keep Australia Beautiful WA chairman Mel Hay said the results showed litter penalties, community education and litter prevention strategies were working, and was an encouraging sign that the community was taking greater care in keeping the state clean.
“Our state still has a long way to go because, out of the eight states and one territory counted, WA is the second worse in Australia for litter volume and the fourth worst in the nation for litter by item,” he said.
New South Wales has the highest volume of litter in the country.
The NLI was conducted by counting litter at 151 sites within 50km of Perth’s central business district including beaches, car parks, highways, industrial and recreational parks, residential and retail shopping centres.
“In WA there was a significant drop in litter items such as cigarette butts, plastic bottle tops, straws and take-away cups but a continuing high volume of litter found along highways,” Mr Hay said.
General littering attracts a $200 fine, whereas more serious littering can attract fines up to $5,000.