Fines of up to $2,500 are being threatened across Queensland as councils introduce laws to penalise wheelie bin louts.
People who leave their bins out on the kerb for more than 24 hours could be slapped with an infringement.
The new local laws are to replace a state law which is due to expire but did not specify a time limit.
There are 20 councils throughout Queensland making the new local laws with the rules coming into force in July.
Leaving the bins out for too long could land residents across Queensland with fines of $2,500
Residents in Mackay run the risk of being fined $2,523 if they flout Local Law Number 9, the Daily Mercury reports.
Similar laws with fines are being introduced in Townsville, Rockhampton, Burdekin, Bundaberg, Gladstone and the Gold Coast.
The changes are being made to ensure urban areas do not look untidy and was not a money-making law, Mackay mayor Greg Williamson told the Daily Mercury.
‘In the case where someone complains that there is a land owner or occupier of a dwelling not doing the right thing by the environment, and people that live in that area, we need this local law or otherwise it is a free-for-all,’ he said.
There are 20 councils across the state but Mackay, which is imposing the maximum fine, says it is not a money-making ploy
But the council said it was not going to rush out and issue fines adding it had the power to do so when required.
Officials said the council had received 18 complaints since April but had issued no fines.
The move had been challenged by the Local Government Association of Queensland, which wanted the state government to extend its current law.
The association says it believes 24 hours is long enough.
The old laws did allow for a maximum fine of $2,523 – the same as being adopted in Mackay – but had no time limit applied to when it should be taken back in.
The version of the new law set to be adopted in Brisbane will keep the unspecified time limit law with a possible fine of $1,260.