Registrations are open for organisations and individuals to participate in Clean Up Australia Day 2024.
This year’s edition of Australia’s largest community-based environmental event is set to take place on Sunday 3 March, and Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia, has urged all Aussies to join with their local community and take immediate practical action on behalf of the environment in the face of the country’s growing waste challenges.
“By registering, you become an official supporter and participant of Clean Up Australia,” Kiernan said. “It’s a simple action for people of all ages to play a vital role in preserving our environment for ourselves and for generations to come.”
Clean Up Australia’s National Litter Report noted an increase in the plastics, vapes and cigarette butts that have made their way into the environment, based on the collections done by Clean Up Australia volunteers.
In particular, soft plastics increased to 34 per cent which is a substantial nine per cent rise, while hard plastics comprised 28 per cent of all surveyed litter, equating to a four per cent increase for plastics overall. Cigarette butts represented 16 per cent, an increase from the previous year, and ranked second only to soft plastic pieces in individual items reported by volunteers, followed by beverage bottles. Vapes were collected at 22 per cent, an increase from 2022 when vapes were found on only 10 per cent of surveyed sites.
“For every piece of litter collected, it is one less in our natural surroundings,” Kiernan said. “Our recent report showed that of all litter collected by our volunteers, 44 per cent was cleared from waterways, followed by parks and bushland at 16 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. The incredible efforts of our volunteers rolling up their sleeves and working together has an impact each Clean Up Australia Day but also all year round.”
