Council A-Z

You are here > Home > Council A-Z > Litter

Litter

This section contains information about litter infringement and fines.

Council staff and the police are able to issue fines of up to $400 to people who leave rubbish in public places or on private land without the occupier’s permission.

What are notices issued for?

Litter infringement notices are issued if you deposit litter or potentially hazardous waste:

• In or on a public place.
• In or on a private land without the consent of its occupier.

What are considered as hazardous waste?

These items are considered hazardous:

• Any bottle whether broken or not.
• Glass.
• Article containing glass, sharp or jagged material.
• Any substance of a toxic or poisonous nature.

How do I pay my fine?

Litter fines should be paid within 28 days from the date the ticket was issued. You can pay the amount due by:

• Cash, cheque, EFTPOS or by credit card at the Civic Centre or any service centres in the district.
• Posting a cheque to us (Private Bag 2025, New Plymouth 4342).
• Phone or electronic banking.

Our bank account is 03-0713-0357528-08. Please make sure you use your infringement notice number as the reference so we can process your payment.

What happens if I don’t pay my fine?

A reminder notice will be sent if payment is not made within 28 days. If payment is not made within 28 days after the reminder notice is sent, the infringement is sent to the court and court costs will be added to your fine. You will then be required to pay your fine through the court.

How do I dispute my litter infringement?

Fill in the litter infringement explanation form and send it to us.

• Litter infringement explanation form (One page 51KB PDF)

Litter Fines

Any breach of the Litter Act 1979 may incur a fine. The list below outlines the types of offences and the amount that you can be charged for each one.

Litter offences that incur a $100 fine:

• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter of less than one litre leaving it in or on a public place.
• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter of less than one litre leaving it in or on private land without the consent of its occupier.

Litter offences that incur a $200 fine:

• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter from one to 20 litres, leaving it in or on a public place.
• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter from one to 20 litres, leaving it in or on private land without the consent of its occupier.
• Depositing, or having deposited potentially hazardous waste, leaving it in or on a public place.
• Depositing, or having deposited potentially hazardous waste, leaving it in or on private land without the consent of its occupier.

Litter offences that incur a $300 fine:

• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter from 20 to 120 litres leaving it in or on a public place.
• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter from 20 to 120 litres leaving it in or on private land without the consent of its occupier.

Litter offences that incur a $400 fine:

• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter more than 120 litres, leaving it in or on a public place.
• Depositing litter, or having deposited litter more than 120 litres, leaving it in or on private land without the consent of its occupier.
• Depositing, or having deposited hazardous waste, leaving it in or on a public place.
• Depositing, or having deposited hazardous waste, leaving it in or on private land without the consent of its occupier.

Return to top