Over 750,000 Aussies unite across 10,000 sites to keep their local communities clean
Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia, says once again there has been overwhelming attendance at Clean Up Australia Day with over 750,000 Aussies coming together to help keep their local communities clean across over 10,000 Clean Up sites. Registrations are still coming in and this is another incredible effort from our volunteers across the length and breadth of Australia.
Clean Up Australia Day is the largest volunteer led environmental event across the nation and the most practical way to educate and demonstrate litter prevention. Clean Up events are happening all across the country from the coast to the outback. Volunteers have joined us in their droves and turned this into a truly special day of community action.
Pip Kiernan says: “As we continue to navigate our national waste challenges, the commitment of our amazing volunteers remains essential. Not only are they picking up litter, but their efforts also expose challenges with new waste streams as they emerge.”
“For every piece of litter collected, it is one less in our natural surroundings. Soft plastic pieces, cigarette butts, vapes and single-use plastic beverage bottles are amongst the commonly reported items collected by volunteers who are encouraged at each site to report their findings and you can’t help but be shocked by the scale of what ends up in our environment as litter,” Pip continued.
“By rolling up our sleeves and witnessing the large quantity as well as the common types of litter lining our streets, bushlands and waterways, we can gain a better insight into our own personal or household footprint on the environment. It encourages each of us to consider practical ways we can prevent that litter in the first place,” Pip concluded.
Pip and community volunteers were joined this morning by the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Australian Minister for the Environment & Water and Olympians Sam Fricker and Kerri Pottharst OAM.
About Clean Up Australia
Founded by Ian Kiernan, AO in 1990, Clean Up Australia is one of the country’s most recognised and trusted environmental organisations, inspiring and empowering communities to improve and conserve our environment, eliminate litter and end waste. Clean Up Australia Day is the nation’s largest community-based environmental event and more than 21 million Australians have participated since its inception.
Clean Up Australia now works with community, governments and businesses to provide practical solutions to help all Australians live more sustainably every day of the year. Today the organisation’s focus is as much on preventing rubbish entering our environment as it is removing what has already accumulated.