Fraser Coast residents, schools and community groups are urged to get in quick and sign up for the country’s largest community-based environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day (Sunday, March 6).

Deputy Mayor Darren Everard said there were 47 clean up events hosted across the Fraser Coast in 2021 with 5,660kg of rubbish collected.

“Those wanting to get involved this year should log on now to the Clean Up Australia Day website –https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/ – to register their event,” he said.

“All community-based participants receive a free ‘Clean Up kit’ containing gloves, bags, sunscreen and other resources, with packs for individuals, families, or groups available.

“In appreciation of the community’s effort, Council will also provide some awesome giveaways to all volunteer groups which register on the CUAD website.

“Once your event is registered with CUA, Council’s Waste Education Officer will contact you by email to organise supplies and giveaways.

“If you haven’t registered your event and want help to get started, please feel free to contact Council on 1300 79 49 29 and ask to speak to our Waste Education Officer.”

COVID-19 lockdowns have changed habits and fuelled a significant increase in household waste, Clean Up Australia Chairman, Pip Kiernan, said.

“In the past two years, there has been a significant increase in single-use plastics, alongside unprecedented numbers of face masks, takeaway coffee cups and food packaging littering our footpaths, parks and beaches,” Ms Kiernan, said.

Almost 6 million Australians over 14 years of age used meal delivery services last year and less than 4% of soft plastics are recycled in Australia, despite it being the most lethal consumer plastic for ocean wildlife.

The recent removal of more than two tonnes of rubbish from K’gari Fraser Island beaches following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth highlighted the need for Clean Up Australia Day on the Fraser Coast, Deputy Mayor Darren Everard said.

Members and volunteers from Zero Co, a sustainable start-up, Ocean Crusaders, a waterway clean-up crew and local tour guide, K’gari Adventures cleaned up the rubbish which had built up along the coastline.

“It’s not just the coastline that is being affected. Litter is building up in many of our favourite parks and outdoor areas,” Cr Everard said.

Statistics show that Clean Up Australia Day volunteers collect more than 3,000 tonnes of rubbish in Queensland alone every year. Nationally, they collect more than 15,000 tonnes. Items range from food packaging and plastic bags to construction materials, toys and ropes.

It’s easy to be involved in Clean Up Australia Day:

• Pick a park or your favourite picnic spot to clean up;
• organise your family, friends, neighbours and workmates to join your team, and;
• register your site and team on the Clean Up Australia Day website www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au.

“Registration also helps Council with organising to collect the rubbish that has been picked up on the day,” Cr Everard said.

 Clean Up Australia Day – Sunday 6 March 2022

Schools Clean Up Day – Friday 4 March 2022

Business Clean Up Day – Tuesday 1 March 2022

Article and photos submitted by Fraser Coast Regional Council.