Queensland Urban Utilities has joined forces with the Tangalooma EcoMarines to clean up river banks and surrounding areas as part of the 25th Clean Up Australia Day.
On Sunday 1 March, Queensland Urban Utilities staff and EcoMarines from Bulimba State School led the charge to clean up the banks of the Brisbane River near Queensport Rocks Park at Murarrie.
Queensland Urban Utilities spokesperson, Michelle Cull, said single-use plastic water bottles were the most common item of rubbish found in South East Queensland waterways.
“Over the past eight years, the number of single-use plastic water bottles ending up in our waterways has doubled,” she said.
“Not only is plastic litter unsightly, studies have found 30 to 40 per cent of sea turtles found dead in Moreton Bay have a significant amount of plastic litter in their stomach.
“That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to follow the lead of our Tangalooma EcoMarines by pledging to carry a reusable drink bottle and fill up on tap water.
“In addition to helping the environment, you’ll also save money. Tap water costs less than one cent per litre compared to up to $3 per litre for bottled varieties.”
Queensland Urban Utilities is also encouraging people to reduce their use of disposable coffee cups.
“Every year a billion takeaway coffee cups end up as landfill or litter,” said Ms Cull.
“If you buy a coffee in a disposable cup every day, the cups would stack higher than 45m in just a year – the equivalent of a 15 storey building!”
