Litter and dumping
Littering and illegal dumping not only makes our city and natural areas look dirty and uncared for, but can have significant health, safety, financial and environmental impacts.
It is an offence to dump or dispose of waste on public land, or on private land without the consent of the owner. This includes but is not limited to nature strips, suburban parks, natural reserves, creek banks, road reserves, easements, beaches and private land.
Even garden waste (including grass clippings) that is dumped in these areas can create problems, such as:
- Reducing the amenity of the neighbourhood
- Blocking stormwater drains and increasing flood risk
- Attracting rats and snakes
- Breeding mosquitoes
- Significant clean up costs
For more information, check our Illegal dumping fact sheet here.
The Cairns Regional Council Litter and Illegal Dumping Action Plan sets goals and associated actions to address litter and illegal dumping through:
- Infrastructure that increases access to responsible waste disposal options.
- Education that increases the uptake of responsible waste disposal options.
- Enforcement that discourages irresponsible disposal options
Download the Litter and Illegal Dumping Action Plan ( PDF, 1.91 MB )
Littering is the unlawful disposal of any type of domestic or commercial waste material of an amount less than 200 litres (about the volume of a wheelie bin). Common littering includes:
- Cigarette butts, drink bottles and fast food packaging thrown out of a vehicle or vessel
- Material falling off a trailer because it was uncovered or poorly secured
- Grass clippings swept into a gutter
- Food scraps thrown into a garden in a park
- Household goods left on the footpath in the hope that someone else will take it.
Illegal dumping is the unlawful deposit of any type of domestic, commercial or industrial waste of 200 litres or more in volume and can include:
- Household rubbish and garden waste being dumped in a local park or bushland
- Household goods (such as whitegoods, TVs, mattresses and furniture) being left on the footpath with a free sign or left outside a charity bin or shop
- Disposing of building waste (construction and demolition materials) in other businesses' industrial bins
- Dropping off tyres, chemical drums and paint tins at roadside rest stops
- Driving into bushland, national parks and council reserves and dumping unwanted garden waste and/or any of the above.
You can report littering or dumping online through our Online Self Service Portal, via the free My Cairns app, or by ringing Council on 1300 69 22 47.
You can also report littering and illegal dumping to the Queensland Government.
If we can identify the person responsible for littering or dumping, Council can:
- Issue a warning
- Issue a compliance notice giving the offender information on how to remedy the offence
- Fine the offender on-the-spot
- Prosecute the offender in court
There are heavy penalties for littering or dumping of waste. These penalties are set up by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Visit the Queensland Government website for the latest amounts.
If issued with a fine for littering or illegal dumping you have 28 days to pay. If payment is not made the fine is referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry. Fine amounts below are for the 2024/25 financial year.
For individuals* | Fine |
|---|---|
| Depositing litter, such as cigarette butts and food wrappers | $322 |
Dangerous littering, such as smashing a bottle and leaving broken glass | $645 |
| Dumping less 2500L | $2580 |
Dumping more than 2500L | $3226 |
For corporations* | Fine |
Depositing litter | $1613 |
Dangerous littering | $2580 |
| Dumping less than 2500L | $8065 |
| Dumping more than 2500L | $12,097 |
*Littering and dumping fines are set by the State. While all effort is taken to keep this webpage up to date, you are advised to visit the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection FAQ page for the latest fines.
You can dispose of general household waste in your general waste (green or red-lid) and recycling (yellow-lid) wheelie bins. Small amounts of green waste can also be placed in your general waste bin - but remember, if you can’t close the lid we can’t pick it up.
Legal disposal options for large amounts of garden waste include:
- Council’s free garden waste drop-off days
- Self-haul to your nearest Transfer Station
- Sign up for a garden waste collection service offered by local businesses
Larger amounts of household waste and recycling can be taken to Council's transfer stations. Many common items can be disposed for free including:
- Batteries, including car batteries
- Cardboard
- Chemical drums (Babinda and Gordonvale only)
- EPIRB
- Fire extinguishers
- Gas bottle
- Household hazardous waste, such as paint and solvents, less than 20 litres
- Light bulbs and florescent tubes
- Mobile phones
- Motor oil, less than 20 litres
- Paper
- Recyclable materials
- Resalable items selected for the Buy Back Shop
- Scrap metal such as aluminium, copper, brass, steel and stainless steel
- Smoke alarms
For construction, demolition and industrial waste, seek a commercial operator or skip hire company.
Illegal dumping, particularly in waterways and drains, is an expensive problem for our community.
Dumping green waste and household rubbish in local waterways, easements and drains can increase the risk of flooding, potentially costing millions of dollars in property damage across the region.
Help us to minimise risk of flood inundation and drain dangers
Property owners should be aware that if a drainage easement is deliberately obstructed, they can be held liable for any damage caused to adjacent and neighbouring properties.
- Do not obstruct the free flow of water along the drainage pathway. (This is a condition attached to an easement on the land title deeds).
- Don't dump waste, plant garden beds or build fences across the flow path. These can obstruct stormwater flow.
- Dispose of green waste and household rubbish appropriately and responsibly. Invasive vegetation and illegal dumping can significantly restrict the capacity of drains. Dumping green waste and household rubbish in drains can also increase the risk of flooding to nearby properties.
- Check that your side fences don't allow rubbish and vegetation to accumulate and block the flow of stormwater. One of the biggest problem areas are side fences constructed across an easement or drain.
- Be mindful of what you plant and how you maintain vegetation near drains and easements to ensure it does not block the water flow.
- Keep driveway crossovers clear of debris and free draining, in particular where modifications (ie. small culverts, steel plates etc) are in place.
- Don't risk entering creeks or drains to clear blockages - please contact Council to clear blockages.
Shopping trolleys
Shopping trollleys dumped illegally in bushland, creeks, drains and waterways can cause a build-up of debris, restricting water flow and creating an environmental hazard during heavy rainfall.
Last Updated: 6 August 2026
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