Plastic litter washed into a Western Sydney creek .

The peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney , the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils ( WSROC ) has been awarded $ 450,000 in grant funding by the NSW Environment Protection Authority ( EPA ) through the Litter Prevention Grants Program .

The funded initiative supports the coordination of the new ambitious Western Sydney-wide litter reduction effort .

WSROC and seven participating Western Sydney councils will team up to action the Western Sydney Regional Litter Prevention Plan 2023-2027 for maximum coordinated effect .

The seven participating councils are Blacktown City , Cumberland City , Fairfield City , Hawkesbury City , The Hills Shire , Liverpool City , and City of Parramatta Councils .

Litter costs Western Sydney residents more than $ 31 million dollars each year , with councils cleaning up and disposing of truckloads of littered items across the region .

“ The most littered locations are roadsides , carparks , recreational parks , shopping strips , and train stations . However , our creeks , rivers and other

waterways are also seriously impacted by littering ,” said WSROC President , Councillor Barry Calvert .

“ Along with cigarette butts , food packaging , and takeaway containers , including coffee cups , are the most littered items in Western Sydney .

“ Only 55 percent of waste disposed in public places was correctly disposed , leaving councils to clean up the whopping 45 percent of rubbish littered in our region .”

Under the new Western Sydney Regional Litter Prevention Plan , WSROC will work in partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the seven councils to : - develop coordinated litter prevention messaging ; - identify standardised litter management approaches ;

- increase the community ’ s personal responsibility to prevent litter ;

- work with other landowners and retailers to implement measure to prevent littering ; and

- support councils with resources , knowledge , monitoring and evaluation , among other tasks .

“ This new Western Sydney Regional Litter Prevention Plan responds to the needs of our seven participating councils , who serve Australia ’ s most culturally diverse and fastest growing region with a population of over 2.6 million people and more than 191,000 businesses spread across approximately 9,000 square kilometres ,” said Councillor Calvert .

“ Much more than just an eyesore , litter degrades the environment , endangers wildlife , contaminates soil and water with chemicals , and the financial costs are borne by our communities .

“ There are three major catchments in Greater Western Sydney — the Parramatta , Georges and Hawkesbury Rivers — fed by a large number of drains and tributaries that carry litter into these river systems and the public recreation areas along them .

“ This can affect the community ’ s use of an amenity and can diminish their sense of pride of place ,” said Councillor Calvert .

“ Western Sydney residents are proud of our environment , and we want to keep our region clean .”