The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation operates a Environment Watch service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can report pollution, illegal dumping and other environmental matters using our online form at the bottom of this page or by calling our Environment Watch hotline on 1300 784 782.
Our Environment Watch service is staffed between 8.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays. Outside of these hours you will be directed to an automated message with an option to leave a message or if you are reporting a major pollution event, elect to speak to an operator.
Call 000 to report a life-threatening incident or emergency
If you are an occupier of a premises on or from which a discharge of waste to the environment has occurred that causes or is likely to cause pollution, material or serious environmental harm, you have obligations under s.72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act). View further information on your obligations and duty to notify the department under the EP Act.
Report to the responsible authority
Some environmental issues are managed by local government, other State or Australian government agencies, or other organisations. The information below will assist you in identifying the appropriate authority to report to.
Nuisance issues such as noise, dust and odour from residential and small to medium businesses are managed by your local government authority. You can find contact information in the My Council directory.
If we are not responsible for the regulation of, or response to a report, we will forward your report to the relevant authority.
Information to record
To assist us to respond to your report, record as many details as possible, including:
- contact details of the person who observed the event
- description of what happened (e.g. noise, odour, illegal dumping)
- time and date – when it happened
- where it happened – location/address
- description of any environmental values that may be affected
- if relevant, how it has impacted your health or comfort
- alleged offender’s details – this may include name, business name, telephone, address, email, vehicle registration plate
- if relevant, other information such as weather conditions.
Crime Stoppers Western Australia
We have partnered with Crime Stoppers to provide another avenue for community members to anonymously report pollution, illegal dumping or other environmental matters. You can find out more on the Crime Stoppers WA website.
Odour
Show moreTo make a report about unreasonable odour, go to our odour reporting webpage.
Noise
Show moreNoise is regulated under the EP Act and the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997. We regulate noise from large industries that are licensed or registered under the EP Act. Find out more about regulating noise.
A variety of state government, local government, other organisations and authorities manage reports of unreasonable noise. You can use the information below to report to the responsible authority.
| Type | Contact |
|---|---|
Noise from:
| Local government - My Council directory |
| Aircraft noise | Airservices Australia Noise Complaints and Information Service |
| Noise from concerts | Event promoter if you received prior notification or local government - My Council directory |
| Construction noise – residential, commercial, light industry | Contact the construction company directly or local government - My Council directory |
Traffic noise from main roads Traffic noise associated with local roads is managed by the relevant local government authority | Main Roads Local government - My Council directory |
| Noisy vehicles | Department of Transport - Assessment of vehicle noise levels |
| Passenger train noise | Public Transport Authority Telephone: 13 62 13 |
| Loud parties or burglar alarms that have been sounding for more than 30 minutes | WA Police |
| Noise from shipping and associated activities such as loading and unloading at major ports | Relevant port authority |
| Noise from large industries licensed or registered under the EP Act | Our Environment Watch service |
Dust
Show moreTo make a report, go to our dust emissions webpage.
Illegal dumping
Show moreWe investigate and prosecute illegal dumping offences under the EP Act.
Illegal dumping is the unauthorised discharging or abandonment of waste and is an offence under the EP Act.
Examples of illegal dumping include dumping of tyres, car bodies, construction and demolition waste, commercial waste and large quantities of unwanted household items.
To assist our investigations, we need as many details as possible to help identify offenders, including:
- time and date you witnessed the event or observed the dumped waste
- address and description of the location (roadways, bushland, industrial area)
- vehicle registration number, colour and make of vehicle
- description of person/s dumping the waste
- type and quantity of waste
- photographs or video footage.
You can report illegal dumping to our Environment Watch service.
More information is available on our illegal dumping webpage.
Littering - Keep Australia Beautiful Council
Show moreThrowing or dropping litter, even unintentionally, is an offence under the Litter Act 1979.
Registered litter reporters can report littering from a vehicle or by a person on foot, including discarding cigarette butts and food wrappings, to the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
You can register as a litter reporter and report littering to the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
Emissions or discharges into the environment
Show moreIf you observe an emission or discharge of waste or chemicals into the environment, from a person, company, vehicle or tank, you can report the event to our Environment Watch service, including:
- liquid waste discharged or spilling from a vehicle or tank
- discharges of waste into the environment, waterways or groundwater
- overflows of wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant or pump station
- abandoned chemicals, chemical drums or containers
- air pollution caused by the burning of tyres, plastics or rubber.
Reports may be made by the person who observed the event or the person or company whose activities caused the emission or discharge.
An occupier of a premises on or from which a discharge of waste to the environment has occurred that causes or is likely to cause pollution, material or serious environmental harm, has a duty to notify the Chief Executive Officer of the department as soon as practicable. You can read more about your obligations under the EP Act.
Some types of spills and discharges are managed by other state government agencies or authorities. You can use the information below to report to the responsible authority.
| Type | Contact |
|---|---|
Pollution from vessels on the Swan and Canning rivers (oil or fuel spills or slicks) Damage to vegetation along the Swan and Canning rivers – Swan Canning Riverpark | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions |
Pollution from vessels within three nautical miles off the coast and marine oil spills Oil or fuel spills or slicks on the Swan and Canning rivers | Department of Transport – Marine pollution |
| Emissions of refrigerants that are ozone depleting substances and/or synthetic greenhouse gases | Australian Refrigeration Council |
| Misuse of pesticides | Department of Health |
Residential or small to medium business pollution-related matters | Local government - My Council directory |
| Asbestos – residential demolition or illegal dumping of asbestos at residential properties | Local government - My Council directory |
Smoke/Smoky vehicles
Show moreCall 000 to report a life-threatening incident or emergency
| Type | Contact |
|---|---|
|
Smoke from prescribed burns |
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions To view a list of prescribed burns and burn offs, and other warnings and incidents go to EmergencyWA |
|
Woodsmoke from domestic wood heaters (smoky chimneys) Backyard burning |
Local government - My Council directory |
| Smoky vehicles |
Impacts to plants and animals
Show moreIf you observe impacts to plants and animals related to pollution, an emission or discharge of waste or chemicals into the environment, you can lodge a report to our Environment Watch service. Impacts to plants and animals are also managed by other state government agencies. You can use the information below to report to the responsible authority.
| Type | Contact |
|---|---|
| Sick or injured wildlife and snake removals | Wildcare Helpline Telephone: 9474 9055 |
| Pest watch – detecting aquatic pests | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development |
| Algal blooms | Our ALGALWATCH team on 6250 8064 (office hours) or email peu@dwer.wa.gov.au Your nearest Department of Water and Environmental Regulation office Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (for the Swan Canning Riverpark) on 9278 0900 |
| Fish deaths | FishWatch 24-hour hotline Telephone: 1800 815 507 |
Report a contaminated site
Show moreTo report a known or suspected contaminated site, go to our contaminated sites webpage.
Submit a report to Environment Watch
Show moreWhen you submit a report to Environment Watch, you will receive a response from us acknowledging your submission. We may contact you for further information.
Not all matters reported to Environment Watch are managed by the department. For reports that relate to another local government or other State or Australian Government agency, we will forward the report to the relevant authority. Please note you may remain anonymous.
You can call our Environment Watch hotline on 1300 784 782 or use the form below to submit your report.
