A Coolaroo man who tossed a lit cigarette butt from a car in Carlton has been ordered to pay a fine and costs adding up to $1,652.95.
A individual reported seeing the butt tossed from a black hatchback on Princes St, Carlton, just after 8 pm on Christmas Day 2017.
They contacted Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) and reported the time, place, make and model of the car and its registration number, and indicated they were willing to give evidence in court.
EPA issued the Coolaroo man with a $634 fine for depositing litter contrary to the Environment Protection Act 1970, he then elected to have the matter heard in court but failed to appear, and was ordered to pay EPA’s legal costs of $1,018.95, as well as the original fine.
EPA Executive Director Paul Stacchino said cigarette butts are the most common items of litter.
“EPA issues approximately 12,000 litter fines a year and three quarters of those fines involve cigarette butts,” Mr Stacchino said.
“The butts are not biodegradable, they leach a variety of chemicals into the environment, and if you drop them in a city street, they quickly find their way into the stormwater system and then into the bay, where they can choke or poison native wildlife,” he said.
“About one third of those cigarette butts are still burning when they hit the ground, and in the suburbs or country Victoria that burning material is a notorious fire hazard.”
Members of the public can use EPA’s 24 hour hotline 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) to report litter and other forms of pollution, including illegal dumping, chemical spills and air pollution.