Can I throw fruit out the car window?
Ever chucked an apple core or banana peel out the car window because “it’s good for the environment”?
Read on to find out why it’s best to put it in the green bin or compost when you get home.
Is all litter the same?
You’re on a road trip and just finished a crisp, Pink Lady apple. It’s much healthier than that delicious-looking vanilla slice you reluctantly declined at the bakery a few kilometres back. Apples are organic, so you can throw the core out the window, right? Wrong.
Throwing any rubbish, including food, out the car window on the roadside is littering and is illegal in South Australia.
Sure, fruit scraps are biodegradable, but they take a long time to break down and can attract vermin, insects and other wildlife which increases the risk of roadside collisions.
Throwing objects from car windows is also distracting and potentially dangerous for other road users.
Break this law and you could be fined $289, plus a $105 Victims of Crime Levy. Local government laws also mean you can incur an on-the-spot council-issued fine, starting at $210.
The driver of the vehicle is responsible for littering offences, so remind passengers not to chuck anything out the window. You all need to keep any rubbish and food scraps in the car until you find a bin.