Our customers tell us that having clean and litter-free streets is a high priority. Council spends considerable time picking up litter and is working proactively to prevent the act of littering. Our programs prioritise community engagement and education, and we work with our communities to ensure the City of Canterbury Bankstown is clean and litter-free.

Council works with the community on a range of litter prevention and clean-up programs, including:

• We Like Our Park Litter Free
  Since 2013, Council officers have visited a number of local parks and reserves throughout summer, encouraging picnickers to make pledges to put their rubbish in the bin.  We have also installed 78 new litter and 12 hot coal bins since then. Over that time, there has been a 90 per cent reduction in litter.
  Litter Prevention Program - We Like our Park Litter Free - Case Study - 2013 to 2018​
  

• Tackling Takeaway Litter
  Council received funding in 2017, from the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, to reduce littering from vehicles. The funding went towards targeting local streets and car parks, where motorists would park their vehicles, to consume takeaway food before littering and driving away. Council increased fines for littering from vehicles by 300 per cent.
  Tackling Takeaway Litter - Case study
  

• Bottle Refill Stations

  Save money on bottled water and re-fill at any of the 12 permanent bottle refill stations at parks across the City. Water refill stations provide you with free drinking water and also reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles that can end up as litter in parks and the Georges and Cooks Rivers. Eight more refill stations will be installed over the next 12 months. Click here to find out more about the refill stations.

• Litter Bin Sensor Program
  To help Council understand how street litter bins are used, how often they get full and whether local businesses are using them incorrectly, sensors have been placed in 60 bins across the City. The real-time information these sensors provide, enables Council to better plan bin placement and servicing, which means it can reduce the amount of litter in town centres. 

• Cleaner Rivers

  Council has partnered with Sydney Water to reduce floating litter in the Cooks River, by installing two litter booms at key locations.  They capture up to 18 cubic metres per week, which is equal to 75 wheelie bins.

  The Georges Riverkeeper removes litter from land surrounding the river and its tributaries, preventing the rubbish from being washed in and ending up in the ocean. Last year, they prevented 16 tonnes of rubbish from entering the Georges River.

• We Like Greenacre Litter Free
  Three times more litter was being found in Greenacre town centre, compared to other town centres in Canterbury-Bankstown. Council's Litter Prevention Program worked with the Greenacre community, to build pride in their town centre. The community drove the change, assisted by Council, with new litter bins installed and interactive engagement on the street. Greenacre has transformed into a more clean and vibrant town centre.
  Litter Prevention Program We Like ​Greenacre Litter Free Case Study - 2015 to 2017

• Campsie Litter Management
  Litter reduction in Campsie town centre was funded through a NSW Environmental Protection Authority Litter Prevention Grant. A focus on building partnerships with local businesses and improving the bin infrastructure, were key to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in litter. 

• Cleanest Street Lakemba
  Council is a proud supporter of Canterbury City Community Centre's The Cleanest Street Lakemba Program. It recognises and rewards the efforts of residents, who help make Lakemba a cleaner and more sustainable place to live in, work in and enjoy.

• 'Glutton' Litter Machine
  The 'Glutton'​​ is a sophisticated litter removal machine that vacuums up litter in hard to reach places. It’s revolutionising how we manage litter in the Campsie and Bankstown town centres. We’re able to remove litter in more areas in a shorter timeframe. Litter impacts us all. You can do your bit to help keep our local town centres clean and green, by putting your rubbish in a bin.​

  

Return and Earn

Return and Earn is a NSW Government program which commenced in December 2017. It provides a 10 cent return on eligible drink containers, with the aim of reducing litter and increasing recycling. The scheme provides opportunities for individuals, local groups and clubs to earn money, by collecting and redeeming eligible drink containers. For more information on acceptable containers and local redemption points, go to NSW EPA.

To report litter in your street, please call 9707 9000.