Luckily the enthusiasm for this campaign is not waning, even though this year many of us have been affected by the wild weather – floods and cyclones – that has left a trail of destruction across the nation. It's clear that Australia's community spirit has not been dented!
The Scouts are renown for fostering community spirit and action, and the Cubs at 1st Bentleigh Scout Group have forwarded to us their report on the fun experience they had participating in 2011 Clean Up Australia Day:
Clean Up Australia Day 2011 Report
The Cubs at 1st Bentleigh Scout Group are fortunate to have their hall placed in a public park so it only seems natural that we would want to clean it come "Clean Up Australia" campaign time. The hall is situated in Victory Park, Bentleigh [VIC] and is utilised for all outdoor activities by the 1st Bentleigh Scout Group. To make sure it is a success, the clean up effort is scheduled for a meeting in the week prior to the official [Clean Up Australia] Day so that as many members will be in attendance to lend a hand.
The Cubs talk about pollution and how we can all do our bit to reduce the impact of refuse in our environment and what happens to the rubbish that is dumped. The pack is then divided into groups and is sent out to comb the surrounding park. There is usually a heated competition as to who will come back with the most rubbish. (Scouring bins is regarded as cheating!! Cigarette butts are counted as one piece and cubs are usually rejected from the bags also!!)
Sixer Chris says: "It can take up to 12 years for a cigarette butt to break down so it is important that they get taken away properly. They make the park look ugly."
Second Dakota says: "It is like a treasure hunt, sometimes we find some good things too."
Brigitte Reiche
Group Leader
1st Bentleigh Scout Group
www.1stbentleighscouts.com.au
Source: Clean Up Australia Day 2010 Rubbish Report
The miscellaneous category may rightfully be simply labelled ‘cigarette butts' – as they comprised 92% of all miscellaneous waste removed in 2010 and are most commonly found on beaches and in parks!
Beverage container related items made up 23.6% of all waste items. Seven out of the top ten items were recyclable, while nine of the top ten items related to packaging in some way
Did you to know?
The Top 10 items collected in 2010 were:
- Cigarette Butts
- Small Paper Pieces
- Polystyrene Pieces
- PET Drink Bottles
- Chips & Confectionary Bags (Plastic)
- Plastic bottle caps
- Alcoholic Beverage Bottles
- Glass Pieces
- Aluminium Cans
- Metal Bottle Caps
Founder of Clean Up Australia Day, Ian Keirnan, says "We are all in this together and we need to continue to work as a community to make every day a Clean Up Day."
Clean Up Australia Day is a not-for-profit organisation and is not government funded and has to working with limited resources. In fact the organisation relies on sponsors and donors to supply resource, including providing free bags, gloves and other equipment and will do so for as long as it has the funds.
If you couldn't take to the streets on Sunday 6 March 2011, you can still do your bit by donating via the Clean Up Australia website or at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank.
"If every Aussie gave just $1 we could make every day a Clean Up Day."
Ed: Our thanks go out to Brigitte Reiche, Group Leader of 1st Bentleigh Scout Group for sending in their report and the fabulous photos of the cubs in action!
If you have photos from Clean Up Australia Day – why not send them to us and we'll publish a selection of the best!
Email your photos to
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Written by Suze Chalmers
Photographs: Courtesy of 1st Bentleigh Scout Group
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