Our street cleaning team
Every day our team of street cleaners work hard to keep our roads, footpaths and laneways clean by sweeping up and hosing down surfaces (using as much recycled stormwater as possible). In fact, in 2011, our team collected a staggering 9,770 tonnes of street litter..
They also empty street garbage bins and ashtrays, collect syringes, pick up illegally dumped items, clean away graffiti and remove posters and stickers plastered around power poles and on walls.
How do I help keep Sydney clean?
- Put your rubbish in public bins
- If you’re a smoker, use an ashtray
- Dispose of chewing gum thoughtfully
- If you're a resident, use our free weekly clean-up service
Report:
- illegal dumps on 02 9265 9333
- abandoned shopping trolleys at trolleytracker.com.au or freecall 1800 641 497
- graffiti or bill poster advertising on 02 9265 9333
- syringes via the Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353
Request:
- a street to be cleaned on 02 9265 9333
Our biggest challenges in keeping Sydney sparkling come from illegal dumps, cigarette butt littering and chewing gum. Find out why.
Illegal dumping
Dumped materials can pollute our fragile waterways through the stormwater system. Plus, illegal dumping is a huge waste of resources because items like unwanted furniture and white goods, can often be recycled or reused.
Dumping makes our streets look unsightly and their clean up is a needless financial burden on ratepayers.
The fact is, illegal dumping is 100% avoidable. The City of Sydney offers a free weekly clean-up service to help prevent illegal dumping of white goods, furniture and large appliances.
Please report illegal dumps on 02 9265 9333 or via our online
form.
Cigarette butts
On average, the City's street cleaners can collect around 15,000 cigarette butts daily - that adds up to millions of butts on our streets each year.
Rain carries litter and cigarette butts through stormwater pipes directly into Sydney harbour reducing the quality of our water and harming marine life. Cigarette filters have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, sea turtles and other marine creatures.
Littered butts leach toxic emissions (like cadmium, lead and arsenic) into water and soil as they decompose and are a serious choking risk to young children. They are also visual pollution and their presence is magnetic - they encourage more litter.
If you are a smoker, please:
- carry a portable ashtray
- use wall-mounted ashtrays outside shops and offices or those on street litter bins
- put out your cigarette before you put it in a bin to avoid fires
Fines up to $200 apply for littering cigarette butts.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum dropped on the ground sticks to the footpath and streets. It doesn't degrade over time and is very difficult and costly to get rid of. As the gum builds up, it makes our streets look unsightly.
Please consider others and get rid of your chewing gum thoughtfully, using street bins provided.
More information
Clean Up Australia - cigarette butts
Zero Waste website - My Clean Sydney
Last Updated: Tuesday 7 February, 2012
