THE smoking rate may be falling but the tossing of cigarette butts is on the rise as NSW faces a new litter crisis.

NSW is now the most littered state according to the National Litter Index, compiled by Keep Australia Beautiful. Western Australia topped the index last year.

The rubbish capital of Australia... seagulls pick among items of litter scattered on Bondi Beach. Credit:Janie Barrett

An average of 75 items of litter for every 1000 square metres were found in NSW. Cigarettes, paper and plastic items were the most common litter items, with cigarettes making up 46 per cent of the waste. Industrial sites, retail locations and car parks were the worst places for litter among 151 sites tested across the state.

Keep Australia Beautiful chief executive Peter McLean said he was not surprised by the results. He called for stronger enforcement of on-the-spot fines - rather than the current warning system - to curb the littering.