Want to make a difference to your favourite, park, bushland or foreshore? Then jump in and get involved in Clean Up Australia day on Sunday March 4.
You won’t be alone. In 2011, more than 565,510 volunteers across 7,400 sites removed an estimated 16,464 tonnes of rubbish across Australia. With 80 per cent of the rubbish collected being recyclable, this one day effort, makes a huge difference to the environment, which is why the Commonwealth Bank is proud to be a Major Sponsor.
Last year, according to the Clean Up Australia rubbish report, the top 10 trash items collected were:
1. Cigarette butts
2. Glass beverage bottles (alcohol and soft drink)
3. Plastic bottles/ PET drink bottles
4. Aluminium cans (alcohol and soft drink)
5. Plastic bags
6. Plastic chips and confectionary bags
7. Plastic bottle caps
8. Metal bottle caps
9. Small paper pieces
10. Metal/ foil confectionary wrappers
Fast Fact: To date, Clean Up Australia Day participants have collected over 200,000 tonnes of rubbish – that’s 4.7 million household wheelie bins!
Plastic – not so fantastic
Over the 21 years of Clean Up Australia, plastic remains the dominant item. It’s also the most damaging, as it stays in the environment for a long time causing harm to both terrestrail and marine wildlife. Picking up plastic is one the key achievements of Clean Up Australia day.
One of our people familiar with the community benefits of this campaign is Terri Everest from the Sunshine Coast. “As a team, we have been involved in Clean Up Australia since 2009 because it is an opportunity for us to give back to our environment. It is also about volunteering for a worthy event; an event where we get to see the outcome and results immediately!”
Do your bit
But there is more to be done and Clean Up Australia’s Founder, Ian Kiernan AO is urging all Australians to get involved. “Everyone can do their bit for Australia, individually or as part of a team. Clean Up Australia Day is a simple way you can clean up, fix up and conserve our greatest resource – Australia.” In 2012, you can play your part!
As part of the Commonwealth Bank’s commitment to the environment, we will be hosting Clean Up Australia Day sites across the country. These include:
Sir James Mitchell Park in Perth
Moondarra Rotary Park, Mount Isa
Farnborough Beach, Rockhampton North
Mitchy’s Jetty/ Fishpen Area, Merimbula
Haslams Creek, Sydney Olympic Park
Wagga Wagga Beach, Wagga Wagga
Carnaby St & Southern Dr, Sunshine Coast
Cnr Bridge Rd & Goodwins Rd, Morisset
Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby
Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park
To get involved in one of these sites, email us and we’ll put you in touch with the site coordinator.
