Some types of fruit tree netting can seriously injure or kill native wildlife, including birds, bats and possums.
In Victoria, household fruit tree netting must have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or smaller when fully stretched.
Not sure if your netting is wildlife-safe? Try pushing your finger through the mesh. If your finger can pass through, the holes are likely too large and the netting is illegal to use.
How to protect your fruit safely
When using fruit netting:
- Use white cross-weave netting
- Secure netting tightly so animals cannot become trapped
- Consider using fruit bags or sleeves to protect individual branches
Swap or surrender your netting
The Fruit Net Swap and Surrender campaign makes it easy to do the right thing.
Residents can surrender old or illegal fruit tree netting and swap it for wildlife-safe alternatives to help protect fruit trees without putting local wildlife at risk.
Available swap items include:
- Large fruit net (2.8m cube)
- Fruit sleeve (30cm x 90cm)
- Pack of 10 fruit bags (30cm x 30cm)
Only one item can be swapped per household. Residents can surrender as many illegal fruit nets as they have.
All surrendered fruit nets will be recycled into new plastic products and diverted from landfill.
Upcoming events
Residents can swap or surrender fruit netting at selected events across Hume.
