If you are someone who carelessly drops your trash anywhere, you better watch out. A new smartphone app enables users to report littering.
Keep South Australia Beautiful Inc. (KESAB) executive director John Phillips OAM said that they have proactively advocated increased enforcement and public reporting, like this new app, in order to reduce indiscriminate and lazy littering behavior.
The App Will Help Residents Report Littering Easier
"Dob in a Litterer" is a free smartphone app that enables people to report litter thrown from vehicles by identifying the registration number and vehicle details. This helps South Australian (SA) residents report littering easier, Technology Decisions said.
Research shows that cigarette butts are the primary contributor to litter in SA, followed by other items like takeout food containers, plastic bottles, and paper. SA Environment Minister Ian Hunter said that the SA is well known for its clean environment and the app will help maintain the reputation.
Reports Are Sent Directly To The Environment Protection Authority
The app is developed by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and is available for both Android and Apple phones and tablets, and it also includes a photo feature to capture the evidence of littering. Online reporting can be done, too, using the Dob In a Litterer website. Reports are sent directly to the EPA for investigation and must be lodged within 2 weeks of the alleged offense.
According to News.com.au, the EPA will investigate reports from the app, and litterers could be fined between $210 and $1000. The app's release coincides with the introduction of the litter provisions of the new Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016. Hunter said that the "Dob in a Litterer" app is specifically designed to target littering vehicles like cigarette butts, lit cigarettes, fast food packaging and drink containers. He added that he is encouraging all SA residents to download the app to report sightings of public littering.
