Volunteer numbers were up and rubbish number down on Clean Up Australia Day when about 260 Noosa volunteers took to the region on Sunday 3 March across 14 local sites organised once again by the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA).
Volunteer co-ordinator Joe Jurisevic said it was pleasing to see volunteer numbers increase and reports of less litter and illegal dumping.
“Litter volumes still came in around 4.3 cubic meters of general waste and 2.4 of recycling with illegal dumping and bulky items adding just under a further tonne collected on the day,” Joe said.
“Plastic and cardboard food packaging was again prolific in the rubbish collected, cigarette butts, other hard plastic items and numerous other household items continue to be discarded rather than binned. Glass and plastic bottles were a notable reduction most likely due to the introduction of the container deposit scheme in Queensland.”
Tewantin Boat Ramp site supervisor Peter Hunnam reported a good turnout to pick up litter along the foreshore, around the town centre and on the water. “It was good to see the number of kayakers cleaning up those hard to reach corners of the foreshore and river islands, and the useful presence of NICA’s Riverwatch boat and volunteer crew providing support, carrying full sacks of rubbish back to Tewantin boat ramp for the audit and disposal,” he said.
The keen eyes of the students from Tewantin and Noosaville State Schools also made a big difference and it was great to have them collecting cheerfully again on Clean Up Day.
The summary results from NICA’s Rubbish Audit show an estimated total number of 3,157 litter items just from the Tewantin site, dominated by diverse bits of Paper and Plastics (over 1,000 of each), followed by cigarette butts, pieces of glass and metal items (around 200 of each).”
The entire Noosa community was engaged with clean ups at Boreen Pt, Cooran, Cooroy, Kin Kin, Pomona and the 4wd club in the hinterland along with sites at Noosa North Shore, Peregian, Sunrise, and Sunshine Beaches, Tewantin, Noosa Woods, Gympie Tce and Teewah township well supported by volunteers keen to keep their villages and surrounds clean.
Volunteers were ably supported by Noosa Council, as well as local businesses Cleanaway and Allcott Hire to help dispose of the all the rubbish collected.
Sadly, some of the bulkier items collected included numerous items that are free to dispose of or were of donatable or saleable quality before being dumped.
