Cessnock residents are being asked to join the effort to combat littering from vehicles and ‘report a tosser’.

Cessnock City Council is ramping up its crack-down on littering and encourage residents to register with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority to report littering from vehicles.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said the campaign sends a clear message – that littering is unacceptable and those caught in the act will be, reported and fined.

“Roadside litter is one of our region’s most unnecessary and preventable environmental problems,” he said.

“Council have been involved in a number of initiatives to manage local litter including the clean up the Basin initiative with Mount View High School.

“This campaign goes a step further by empowering every resident to do something about the problem by making a report.”

Cessnock residents can collect free car tidy bags from Cessnock and Kurri Kurri Library and the Hunter Valley Visitor Centre.

The car tidy bags are financed via the Environment Protection Authority’s Better Waste and Recycling Fund.

Cessnock Library’s Tuesday morning story time session this week focused on waste awareness, and all families in attendance received a car tidy bag.

The Report to EPA service is part of a comprehensive NSW Government anti-littering program and aims to deter people from littering from vehicles by increasing the likelihood of being seen, reported and fined.

The campaign is expected to see real results as research shows people are less likely to litter if they think someone is watching.

It also aims to help raise awareness, change behaviour and reduce clean-up costs.

The EPA can issue fines of $250 for an individual and $500 for a corporation for littering from a vehicle, based on reports from members of the public.

Residents can register at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/reporttoepa.