Tackling litter in Byron Shire

For every Australian there are 5 pieces of litter on our beaches.

Each year, over 25,000 tonnes of litter is tossed in NSW.

Litter gets into our waterways and harms our:

  • Turtles
  • Seabirds
  • Fish.

Litter impacts us all. Learn how we can all make a difference, plus find out more about our successful Butt Free Byron Shire campaign.

Why reducing litter is important?

This video teaches you how you can help keep the Byron shire clean and protect our local environment.

Impacts of littering

  • Litter can prevent us from enjoying our local parks, beaches, rivers and town centres.
  • If you litter, you can be fined.
  • Litter costs ratepayers. There are significant clean-up costs.
  • Litter can have a negative impact on local businesses and the tourism industry.

Butt Free Byron Shire

Our Butt Free Byron Shire campaign has been running since 2018. Its aim is to reduce cigarette butt litter and ALL litter in the shire.

The award-winning campaign has achieved:

  • 72% reduction in cigarette butts
  • 40% reduction in ALL litter volume
  • 18.4% reduction in littered beverage items
  • 12,000+ pieces of litter picked up.

This success was achieved through education, enforcement, infrastructure, monitoring and clean-up.

Key parts of this project

  • Installing 123 'Enviropoles' - special butt bins in litter hotspots throughout the Shire.
  • Implementing and enforcing a smoking ban on Byron's Beaches.
  • Enforcement blitzes in peak holiday periods.
  • Regular clean up and monitoring activities.
  • Running regular beach cleans on Main Beach with partners, Positive Change for Marine Life.
  • Educational events.
  • Local business engagement to help us spread the message.

This project is an NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Waste less, Recycle more initiative, funded from the waste levy.