Clean Up Our Waste
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Clean Up Australia (CUA) actively works with government, business and communities to encourage initiatives that reduce the amount of rubbish that is left in parks, along roadways and on beaches. We want to see the back of items that are increasingly finding their way into our already stressed waterways and having a dreadful impact on wildlife.
30 years ago our founder Ian Kiernan AO predicted that plastic would be the scourge of our generation. Durable with a flexible application, it’s a great material when well applied. But unfortunately, the amount of single-use applications we are seeing today means that our environment and landfill is being choked by plastic. Programs such as War on Waste have made us so much more aware of the sheer volume of rubbish we throw into our bins. We were shocked to learn that we Aussies produce 540kg of household waste per person each year. This is an enormous waste of resources and it requires very large holes to put it in!
China’s, and now Malaysia’s, ban on receiving contaminated recyclate has thrown the spotlight on the challenges facing our local industry. It’s up to each and every one of us to play our part – because as much as the responsible players within the waste management industry are investing in new technology and facilities – the best outcome starts with how we reduce the amount of rubbish being sent to landfill. Clean Up Our Waste is all about helping you make the best decisions. We’re actively compiling practical tips and hints that will make a real difference without breaking the bank. New information will be added as we find it - so check these pages for updates or follow us on social media.
Conscious we can’t do this on our own we are actively partnering with like-minded businesses who have become Corporate Changemakers.
Malaysia readies to return Australia's plastic rubbish
Malaysia last year became the world's main destination for plastic waste after China banned its import, disrupting the flow of more than 7 million tonnes of the rubbish a year.
Century Yuasa Batteries
Did you know that a single cigarette butt can poison up to 40 litres of water? We've teamed up with Andrew Ettingshausen and Clean Up Australia to encourage Australians to throw their butts in the...
Concerned about the scale of cigarette butts littered around boat ramps, wharves and jetties, Century Batteries donated $1 to Clean Up Australia for every marine battery it sold last summer. The most reported rubbish items across Australia are cigarette butts. Every butt contains both plastic and toxic chemicals.
Disappointed that littering campaigns have not achieved any reduction in the number of butts being reported by our volunteers, we have approached councils to ask them about what has worked in their jurisdiction. Feedback received so far indicates the best outcomes involve a combination of messaging around why it is important, dedicated bins and restricting areas where smoking is allowed.
When was the last time you saw a bottle or can in the gutter?
Chances are it was before the introduction of the 10c deposit/refund scheme for beverage containers which has been expanded into New South Wales, Queensland and coming soon to Western Australia. Return and Earn, is well on the way to passing the two billion mark for containers collected across NSW.
Container Deposit Schemes are important not just because they help to prevent littering but because the material collected this way is much cleaner and easier to recycle than if these containers go into regular recycling bins.
So keep checking our Waste pages for new ideas on what you can do.
Return and Earn
Congratulations NSW! You have returned ONE BILLION containers in ONE YEAR. This huge achievement has reduced eligible container litter volume by 44%. Thanks NSW and keep up the great work! Get...
