Report Roadside Litter

When is roadside littering considered a problem?

In Australia, dumping waste on road shoulders or in rest areas is illegal. Even small items can accumulate, and dumping on larger loads (anything over 200 litres) can lead to significant penalties for offenders.

In New Zealand, littering in any public place, including roadsides, state highways, and verges, is against the law under the Litter Act 1979, with authorities able to issue various fines.

Can you report roadside litter?

Roads can be tricky because they are often managed by different authorities, sometimes it’s your local council, and other times it’s a state transport agency. That’s where Snap Send Solve helps to make things simple.

You don’t need to do the guesswork. Just Snap a photo of the litter, and we’ll use your location to notify the responsible Solver. This helps them take the right course of action to keep our shared travel routes clean and safe.

Common examples of roadside litter include:

• Beverage bottles, cans, and takeaway packaging (often the most common items found).
• Household bags of rubbish left in rest stops.
• Blown tyres, vehicle debris, or items fallen from unsecured loads.
• Larger items like furniture or whitegoods left on the verge.

Safety first: If you’re Snapping while on the road, please ensure you are safely pulled over or that a passenger is taking the photo. Never use your phone while driving.

Want to report it later? No worries! If you can't safely complete your Snap while on the move, you can easily finish and send your Snap once you’ve arrived safely at your destination. 

You can do this in two simple ways:

• Snap a photo now, upload later: If a passenger took a photo, or if you safely snapped one while pulled over, just upload it from your camera roll when you're home. The app is smart enough to automatically use the location data attached to the image. You can find out more here. 
• Pin the location manually: If you didn't manage to get a photo, you can still start a report from home. Just type the address into the search bar or manually drag and drop the pin on the map to where you spotted the litter. But make sure you give a detailed description of the litter and location. 

Why should I report roadside litter?

When you report roadside litter, you’re doing more than just tidying up an eyesore. Roadside rubbish can wash into storm drains and end up in our waterways, harming local marine life. It also poses a threat to land animals and can increase the risk of grass fires.

By reporting these issues, you're helping authorities manage their resources more effectively. Reports can help prevent small amounts of litter from becoming larger, more expensive environmental hazards, allowing community funds to be used more efficiently across your local area.

Plus, every Snap you send can help act as a data point. Helping councils and transport authorities to spot problem areas over time, providing the clear data they need to target solutions like improved signage, education, or bin infrastructure right where it's needed most.

So, what happens next?

Once you hit "Send," we notify the responsible authority, usually the local council or the relevant road or transport department. The Solver will then assess the report and determine the best way to address it based on their own resources and schedules.

Our Snappers often tell us they appreciate the ability to track their Snap in the My Snaps section of the app. It’s a great way to see the impact you’re making without the back-and-forth of phone calls. If the litter hasn’t been addressed after two weeks, you may have the option to send a Nudge, which acts as a friendly follow-up signal to the Solver.