If you have a local site that’s in need of some attention at the hands of your own community, you can now register the project to become a part of the annual Clean Up Australia Day event.
Ian Kiernan, founder of Clean Up Australia Day.
Founded by Ian Kiernan and Kim McKay in 1989, the event continues to go from strength to strength and this year contributed to the removal of 16,000 ‘ute loads’ of rubbish from 8,205 locations around Australia, according to a recent media release.
“Over the year we have seen a 30 percent increase in volunteer numbers – a testament to how keen Aussies are to remove rubbish from their favourite places,” said Kiernan, who remains as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the initiative.
“Our website is now open for 2017 registrations, calling for everyone to put on a pair of gloves and grab a bag – because when the rubbish is gone, nature can carry on.”
And the organisers stress that you don’t have to be willing or able to pick up rubbish to get involved, encouraging the public to consider sponsoring a site or donating via the Clean Up Australia website or Facebook page, where 100 percent of funds raised are used to provide the materials used by clean up groups around the country.
“Over the last 26 years volunteers have donated more than 31 million hours at over 166 thousand locations across the country. Together they have removed the equivalent of 331,000 ute loads of rubbish – that’s like having end-to-end utes stretched from Sydney to Brisbane following the coastline,” Kiernan said.
To register your location, either visit the Clean Up Australia website or call 1800 CUA DAY for further details.