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Clean Up A Great Success

Photograph: a group of young people from Wollangarra Outdoor Education Centre, at Newhaven on Clean Up Australia Day

Bags of litter and dumped rubbish were removed by hard working volunteers from across Bass Coast on Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday, 4 March.

By Bass Coast - 9th March 2012 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council Community and Economic Development Director, Steven Piasente, said individuals and local groups registered fifteen sites for clean up in Bass Coast.

"Volunteers did a great job clearing rubbish from our public bushland, beaches, parks, roadsides and waterways. Our Litter Prevention Officer, Leanne Edwards, went to some of the clean up sites on the day to see what rubbish was being collected.

"Surprise finds included car parts and building materials in the sand dunes at Smiths Beach on Phillip Island; car tyres and a shopping trolley in public bushland at Wonthaggi.

"There were 522 cigarette butts in just one of the 15 bags of waste collected from Coronet Bay foreshore," said Mr Piasente.

Larger items like empty drink containers and take away packaging seem to be going into the bins, however there were a lot of smaller ‘bits and pieces’ found on the day.

"This means that we need to take more care with things like our straws, sachets, serviettes, bottle caps and lolly wrappers,"continued Mr Piasente.

"People enjoying public places should remember to put all of their small bits and pieces into a bin or take them home; and smokers need to take responsibility for disposing of their cigarette butts. While these items are small, the evidence from the Clean Up Day is clear that they can have a big impact," Mr Piasente said.

The information from analysis of the Clean Up Australia Day waste bags will help Council to target educational campaigns, waste and recycling signage and facilities, and enforcement activities.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com