Clean Up Australia Day
1 March 2015
Business Clean Up Day
24 February 2015
Schools Clean Up Day
27 February 2015
A container deposit scheme will go far in cleaning up Western Australia according to the latest
Rubbish Report revealed by Clean Up Australia today
Friday 20 February 2015: The latest WA Rubbish report confirmed that beverage container waste and cigarette butts are
of major concern to West Australians.
The WA government should be as concerned about local environmental issues as their constituents with beverage container waste
representing 34% of the Top 10 rubbish items reported by volunteers in 2014, a 1% increase over 2013. Further analysis showed
that non-alcoholic beverage bottles and cans increased by 2%.
According to Ian Kiernan AO, Chairman and founder of Clean Up Australia, it’s about time the West Australian government started
learning from the experience of their closest neighbours, SA and NT, and consider implementing a container deposit scheme that
would go part of the way in solving some of the state’s rubbish problems.
“I am disturbed by the prevalence of beverage containers and their associated rubbish in the state, especially when they can so
easily be captured and recycled,” said Mr Kiernan.
The Report sends out a strong message to the West Australian government that current recycling programs are simply not making
enough difference, especially when communities are telling us they will support increased recycling if they can have a container
refund scheme.”
Beverage containers that would have been covered by a refund program represented 30% of all rubbish reported in 2014.
And the challenge doesn’t stop here.
Just as disappointing is cigarette butts that, as a single item, increased by 6% over the previous year. And if you add associated
rubbish such as lighters and packets their impact increases, making up 26% of the total rubbish reported within the Top Ten.
Commenting on the Report Ian Kiernan is astounded that smokers continue to act so irresponsibly.
“Smokers seem to think that just because cigarette butts are a small item of rubbish they don’t count, which is outrageous,
especially in the quantities that we find them strewn about. They should be ashamed of themselves,” said Mr Kiernan.
Although the Report indicated that West Australians are most concerned about the state of their roadways, parks and beaches,
shopping malls represented the most polluted sites in 2014. According to volunteers, an average of 785 items of rubbish were
collected per site in 2014 making these sites the most polluted in the state.
“The thought of people carelessly throwing away rubbish still enrages me even after 25 years on the rubbish trail. As much as I am
overwhelmed by the generosity of our volunteers; I am in equal part outraged by the litter bugs that make our work necessary.
They are a national shame, said Mr Kiernan.
Over the last quarter of a century volunteers have donated more than 27.2 million hours towards caring for the environment
through Clean Up Australia Day by removing an estimated 288,650 tonnes of rubbish from 145,754 sites across the country. Their
hard work exhibited the pride that residents have in the cleanliness of their local environment.
Website: www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au | Email: [email protected] | Phone: 1800 CUA DAY or 1800 282 329 | Fax: 02 8221 9513
Address: 193 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Australia | Clean Up Australia Ltd ACN 003 884 991 ABN 93 003 884 991
Clean Up Australia Day
1 March 2015
Business Clean Up Day
24 February 2015
Schools Clean Up Day
27 February 2015
“I urge the people of Western Australia to put themselves in the picture in 2015 to clean up your local streets, parks, bushland and
waterways on Sunday 1 March to Clean Up Australia.”
To register go to: cleanupaustraliaday.org.au
-ENDSFor further media information, interviews and photographs, please contact Tracey Wigg at Gaia Communications on 0419
141 266
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY 2015
WHAT: Australia’s biggest community participation event. Do your bit for your local area and get your Clean Up Team together and
register your chosen Clean Up Site or let us know some of the rubbish hotspots in your local area.
WHEN: Clean Up Australia Day – Sunday, 1 March 2015; Business Clean Up Day – Tuesday, 24 February 2015; Schools Clean
Up Day – Friday, 27 February 2015.
WHERE: Local rubbish hotspots nationally
WHO: Everyone is welcome – friends, family, kids, community groups, work colleagues, organisations or anyone else.
HOW: Register your Clean Up Site and local rubbish hotspots for Clean Up Australia Day 2015 now on www.cleanup.org.au or call
1800 CUA DAY for more information.
YOU: To become a member YOU go to www.cleanup.org.au and follow the prompts to YOU
Website: www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au | Email: [email protected] | Phone: 1800 CUA DAY or 1800 282 329 | Fax: 02 8221 9513
Address: 193 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Australia | Clean Up Australia Ltd ACN 003 884 991 ABN 93 003 884 991