Pip Kiernan calls for Aussies to take action and register for the March 5 event
20 FEBRUARY 2023: Registrations are still open for Clean Up Australia Day 2023, with free clean-up kits available for the national event taking place on March 5.
The kits include gloves, rubbish and recycle bags for individuals or families who wish to join a pre-existing Clean Up event in their area or want to create their own.
“Joining in on Clean Up Australia Day is one of the first steps Australians can take to maintain and protect our environment. Concerningly, our recently released 2022 National Rubbish Report highlighted that plastics account for 63% of the rubbish items removed from our parks, schools, bushland, creeks, beaches and roadways, a 17% increase from 2021. There is no better time than now to take practical action. Get our gloves on and get together to make this year the biggest effort yet,” says Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia.
The Clean Up Australia National Rubbish Report is a snapshot of rubbish items volunteers have removed across 1,075 surveyed locations in Australia during 2022. Breaking down by location, 46% of all reported rubbish found nationally was in waterways including beaches, rivers and dive sites, followed by parks (14%) and bushland (13%). Plastic litter dominated all locations, with most found in school grounds (79%), bushland (74%) and parks (60%).
Bringing to the forefront one of the greatest challenges facing Australia’s recycling industry, the report also noted a rise in soft plastics by 7%, hard plastics by 5% and polystyrene by 5% compared to 2021, with single-use plastics such as plastic bottles, takeaway containers, food packaging and lids making up 25% of all reported rubbish.
“There are many everyday changes that we can make outside of volunteering our time to Clean Up Australia Day. We can opt for reusable shopping bags and coffee cups, avoid single use plastics, make purchases with longevity in mind, and actively seek out reusable and recycled packaging. These are small steps we can take where we successfully reduce, reuse and refuse as often as we can,” Pip continues.
Clean Up Australia Day will be held on Sunday March 5, 2023, to register visit cleanup.org.au
