For many years there were no relevant laws leaving responsibility up to the individual. This meant that governments were reliant, and certainly to some degree still are reliant, on voluntary changes in behaviour as well as a number of education and incentive programs.

The Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016 (SA) provides for the regulation of litter, the imposition of penalties for offences and abatement notices in South Australia. See Litter control.

In addition, the Environment Protection Act 1993 (SA) sets out a general environmental duty in section 25, which requires a person who undertakes an activity that pollutes or might pollute the environment to take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise environmental harm.

Whilst a breach of this duty does not create a criminal offence, it can lead to action being taken against a person by other private individuals or a government agency. This includes environment protection orders and clean-up orders.