Jan Juc man fined for littering after tossing coffee cups from car

A JAN JUC man has been fined $531 after pleading guilty to two charges of unlawfully depositing waste at Freshwater Creek.

The incident occurred on Anglesea Road just before 5 pm on March 29 when the man tossed a coffee cup from his car and dropped another one five minutes later.

EPA Victoria fined him after a witness reported the littering to the 24-hour pollution hotline.

The case went to the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on April 29, 2024.

The Magistrate fined the man $150 without conviction and ordered him to pay $381 in costs.

Torquay Rubbish Ranger Dean Walton said discarded coffee cups were a common sight.

“We are seeing a lot of coffee cups and a lot of Maccas, and we see a lot of cans and bottles.”

“Along the road, most of the stuff we see would probably be thrown out of vehicles,” he said.

“It would be great if people were more responsible and didn’t throw their rubbish out on the roadside.”

EPA Victoria issues approximately 13,000 litter fines each year, many for small items like food containers or cigarette butts.

Littering is an offence under Section 115 of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

Walton’s commitment to cleaning up the coast earned him the Local Legend title from the Surf Coast Shire council in 2022.

Averaging 20 to 25 hours a week collecting rubbish between Torquay and Anglesea, often using his bike with a trailer carrying a bin, Mr Walton said he is motivated by a desire to give back to the community he has called home for the past two years.

“It’s easy to throw something out the car window, but it’s potentially going to cost you a lot of money,” Mr Walton said.

Torquay Rubbish Rangers meet every Sunday morning outside Bomboras Beach Bar, and more information can be found on their Facebook page.

Members of the public can report litter and other forms of pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution.