Clean Up Australia Day

Join us in cleaning up on Sunday 6 March. Rubbish is a big issue in our environment.

Founder of the day, Ian Kiernan said,  “Australians generally do the right thing, but with each one of us producing two tonnes of rubbish every year, there is still too much waste ending up in our natural environment.”

                             Beaches and coastal areas are the third most polluted sites in the country. Rivers and creeks are fourth most polluted areas.

The top 10 rubbish items found in 2010 were:

1. cigarette butts

2. small pieces of paper

3. polystyrene pieces

                             4. PET drink bottles

                             5. Plastic chip and confectionery bags

                             6. Plastic bottle caps

                             7. Alcohol beverage bottles

                             8. Glass pieces

                             9. Aluminium cans

                             10. Metal bottle caps

Plastic is the biggest offender in terms of rubbish found, especially on beaches with an average 155 items on every site.

We love our outdoor lifestyle in north Queensland. The facts show that while we are better at recycling in the home our environment cops it when we drop our litter.

Top green tips for when you are outside:

1. Take your rubbish home with you, especially if the bin at the park is overfilled.

2. Say no to plastic bags when you are at the shops.

3.Stop buying bottled water but purchase a reusable bottle and fill up at home.

4. Avoid buying products in plastic packaging or purchase recyclable packaging.

5. Dispose cigarette butts in bins

6. Carpool, bike, walk or take public transport to get around.

7. Save fuel by using the airconditioning when you first enter your car and then turn it off or switch to lower setting.