Noosa residents disregarded the blustery conditions on Saturday to take part in Clean-Up Australia Day events across the shire.
At Peregian Beach Mayor Frank Wilkie took charge of the clean up. He said over his years of being involved the amount of rubbish collected had steadily declined, showing the diligence of locals who regularly pick up rubbish on their daily walks.
Residents still turned up on Saturday to lend a hand, including Amy and Shane and their children Theo, Archie and Zac, who scoured the beach.
At Noosa Woods Emily Mills of Plastic Free Noosa, along with Oliver and Rosie, said 13 people who turned up to help managed to collect 15 full bags of rubbish.
Among the items found were backpacks, shoes, bottles, cans, cigarettes and plenty of plastic, they said.
At Sunshine and Sunrise beaches NICA members found four discarded mattresses and an abundance of foil wrappers from snack foods such as lollies and chips.
This year Clean Up Australia Day, celebrated 35 years with the event coordinated by community group NICA (Noosa Integrated Catchment Association). NICA volunteer Tony Clarke organised 15 registration and collection sites across the Noosa region, including six in the hinterland, two along the eastern beaches and six around the lower Noosa River and Lakes.
Tony reiterated Cr Wilkie’s views, saying there was less litter than in previous years.
“People are thinking of cleaning up each and every day,“ he said.
Despite improvements there was still plenty of rubbish collected, particularly from the river where tyres, bike frames and plastics.
Tony thanked everyone involved and said NICA would prepare a detailed analysis of rubbish retrieved during the Clean Up Australia event and contribute it to the national database.
