Ocean Grove Coastcare has been active in reducing litter, especially single-use plastic, entering the ocean for several years, with its promotion of reducing the use of single-use plastic bags and selling over 1,000 sustainable jute bags.
Our priority actions are:
- Run two local litter clean-up events each year.
- Partner with school groups to deliver educational activities.
- Initiating the installation of cigarette butt bins in litter hot spots.
Our litter pick-up days are undertaken in association with Clean-up Australia Day and litter pick-up whilst undertaking weed pull and tree planting activities in the coastal dunes.
Personal Action
As well as group activities, we can all contribute to reducing waste. Remember the five R’s, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.
Just a few thoughts for individual action:
- Consider the amount of plastic packaging when purchasing, and the available alternatives.
- Avoid plastic straws and use sustainable straws or cups.
- Bubble generators make a fun alternative to balloons that can end up in the ocean.
- Smokers need to be mindful that cigarette butts are plastic and never break down, so be responsible and dispose of butts only into waste bins.
- Be a Local Hero and pick up waste on the beach, in your local park, or from along your street before it is flushed down drains that lead to waterways such as the Begola wetlands, or the Barwon River estuary, and ultimately into our ocean.
- Be a responsible dog owner and dispose of waste into bins.
- Recycle unwanted household items at your local opportunity shop or offer items for free via the Facebook marketplace.