The Litter Bill 2026 was tabled in Parliament this afternoon, introducing stricter penalties to address littering and related offences across the country.
Minister for Climate Change Lynda Tabuya said the Bill strengthens enforcement with clear fines and sanctions for individuals and businesses.
Key offences and penalties under the Bill include:
- Obstructing or hindering an officer – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment; Corporate: up to $2,000
- Failing to comply with an officer’s lawful direction – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $5,000 fine or 3 months imprisonment; Corporate: up to $10,000
- Providing false identity / refusing to give name or address – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment
- Impersonating an officer – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment
- Assaulting, threatening or intimidating an officer – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment
- Bribing an officer – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment; Corporate: up to $2,000
- Officer accepting a bribe – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment
- Commercial premises dumping waste into public bins – Fixed penalty: $200;
- Individual: $1,000 (first offence), $8,000 (repeat)
- Corporate: $10,000 (first), $20,000 (repeat)
- Placing litter out on non-collection days – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $300 fine or 3 months imprisonment; Corporate: up to $1,000
- Damaging or removing litter bins – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 6 months imprisonment; Corporate: up to $2,000
- Dumping dangerous litter in public places –
- Individual: $5,000 (first), $10,000 (repeat)
- Corporate: $10,000 (first), up to $100,000 (repeat)
- General littering / illegal dumping – Fixed penalty: $200;
- Individual: $500 (first), $1,500 (repeat)
- Corporate: $10,000 (first), $20,000 (repeat)
- Posting notices without permission – Fixed penalty: $200;
- Individual: $200 (first), $500 (repeat)
- Corporate: $1,000 (first), $2,000 (repeat)
- Allowing items to fall from vehicles – Fixed penalty: $200;
- Individual: $500 (first), $1,000 (repeat)
- Corporate: $2,000 (first), $5,000 (repeat)
- Failing to remove debris from vehicle – Fixed penalty: $200;
- Individual: $200 (first), $1,000 (repeat)
- Corporate: $800 (first), $2,000 (repeat)
- Breaking glass or hazardous objects in public places – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $400 fine or 3 months imprisonment
- Parents failing to stop minors from littering – Fixed penalty: $200; Court: up to $500 fine or 3 months imprisonment
- Employer retaliating against whistleblowers – offence recognised under the Bill with penalties applicable
The Bill introduces escalating penalties for repeat offences and significantly higher fines for corporate entities, signalling a tougher national stance on littering and environmental protection.
Debate on the Bill will be held tomorrow.
