Lithgow City Council

The New South Wales Government as part of its Litter Prevention Program has introduced new litter laws with regards to the distribution of advertising material. Under these laws advertising material is defined as ‘any paper product including a leaflet, brochure or magazine or other material thing that contains advertising’.

Fines can be issued to employers whose advertising material is delivered inappropriately. Employers can also be fined if they cause or ask someone else to distribute their advertising material inappropriately. On the spot fines range from $200 to $400 with the maximum court fine being $3,300.

From 1 April 2001, advertising material must be placed into letterboxes, newspaper receptacles or under doors of premises. It is illegal to put advertising material under car windscreen wipers, on top of letterboxes, on property gates or fences, in a public place, in open private places and in other inappropriate places where it could become litter. However, this law does not cover newspapers, parking fines or material that is too large to fit into a letterbox, newspaper receptacle or under a door such as a telephone book. Delivery of bulky advertising material should be made to a sensible place, that is where indicated by the householder, or in such a way that it won’t become litter.