Keep it Clean Campaign
The Healthy Waterways Keep it Clean Campaign has been developed to implement solutions to the serious threat of waterway litter and marine debris in South East Queensland (SEQ).
While our current Clean Up Program has been effective in clearing litter from waterways, Healthy Waterways recognise that prevention is better than a cure, and rubbish that enters our waterways is preventable.
The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the issue and impacts of waterway litter in SEQ, and engage them in the solution.
The Keep it Clean Campaign includes:
- A program to raise community awareness about waterway litter and how individual actions contribute to the issue of marine debris, both locally and globally. This includes a range of educational resources including a 2011 calendar and a kid’s activity booklet.
- The installation of improved bin infrastructure at fishing spots, boat ramps, marinas and boat clubs. This will aid the recovery of discarded fishing line and the collection of recyclable material where possible.
- Increased collaboration and capacity building with relevant school, community, industry and government groups to reduce the amount of litter in SEQ waterways.
- A new Healthy Waterways Awards category called the 'Clean Up Award' that recognises and rewards clean up achievements and proactive efforts to reduce waterway litter.
This anti-littering initiative addresses one of the objectives within the SEQ Healthy Waterways Strategy:
'Reduced litter in South East Queensland through increased understanding of its presence in waterways and catchments and its potential impact on ecosystems and wildlife.'
Literature review
A review of national and international literature focusing on marine debris and water litter education/awareness raising programs, tools and methods, was undertaken to assist development of the campaign. The key findings are summarised under two headings:
Pease contact Healthy Waterways for further information.
Awareness material
As part of the Keep it Clean campaign, Healthy Waterways has developed six anti-littering advertisements. If you would like copies of these posters, please email us.
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Food Wrappers Food wrappers can make up a large percentage of litter, especially near fast food outlets and shopping centres. Queensland has new litter laws with general litter, which includes the dumping of food wrappers and food items, attracting fines up to $200. Always put food packaging in the bin | Plastic Bags Plastic bags are light weight, can travel long distances, and may take up to 1000 years to break down.
Australians use millions of plastic bags every day and many of these are blown or washed into our waterways where they cause suffering and death to marine wildlife including turtles, whales, and birds. Always put plastic bags in the bin. |
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Chemicals Paint, varnishes and lacquer along with other household products contain a range of toxins and petrochemicals that are hazardous to aquatic wildlife and degrade water quality.
Even when these products are diluted they should never be tipped down stormwater drains or dumped near waterways.
Use the Planet Ark recycling website to find contact details for disposal of chemicals and paint by your local council and drop off points for other items that can be recycled. Always dispose of paint and household chemicals correctly. | Cigarette Butts Cigarette butts can take up to 12 months to break down in fresh water and up to 5 years in seawater.
Birds and aquatic animals can mistake butts as food and swallow them, resulting in serious digestive problems that may lead to death.
Another concern is the toxic chemicals that the filters in cigarette butts are designed to capture, such as lead and cadmium, which will start to leach out within one hour of contact with water. Always put cigarette butts in the bin. |
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Litter Rain washes street litter into the stormwater system and into local waterways. This litter can add to the global problem of marine debris.
Every year over 6 million tonnes of rubbish ends up in the world’s oceans, 80% of which is plastic, with a further 10% of this being plastic bags.
Litter on land and in waterways reduces the aesthetic value of local communities, limits our recreational use of waterways and income from activities such as tourism. Always put litter in the bin. | Fishing Line Lost and littered recreational fishing line has many impacts on waterways including death and injury to wildlife, destruction and degradation of fish habitat, and damage of recreational fishing spots. Always dispose of fishing line carefully and consider using biodegradable fishing line. Always put used fishing line and hooks in the bin. |