Data from a new Byron Shire Council litter prevention project shows that in two months 1,450 pieces of litter have been stopped from flowing into the Cape Byron Marine Park.
Funded by a $50,000 grant from the NSW Environment Protection Authority, the Source to Sea – Keep Byron Shire Litter-free project has allowed for the installation of 24 litter baskets in drains in Byron Bay.
The first audit revealed 5.1kg of rubbish was collected in the baskets with 60% of items made of plastic including cigarette butts, cutlery, straws and small sushi soy sauce 'fish' bottles," Zoe White, Council's Waste Education and Compliance Officer said.
"Cigarette butts, which are made of plastic and leach toxic chemicals into waterways, were the most numerous item," Ms White said.
The baskets in the drains are designed to trap any litter and organic matter from the street that enters the stormwater drains without impeding the regular flow of water.
"Surprisingly we collected almost 91kg of organic matter in the baskets," Ms White said.
"We are focusing on reducing litter, but the project is about improving the overall health of our waterways in more ways than one and organic debris can also clog drains and have an impact on water quality.
"The devices will be regularly monitored over 12 months and the data we collect will guide future litter prevention and education programs.
"What this program shows very clearly is that if someone throws something on the ground it's almost the same as throwing it straight into our beautiful ocean," she said.
"We want to cut litter off at the source before it even has a chance to reach the sea and that means educating people who are not using bins correctly.
"It's also about getting people to consciously choose to not use single-use items like cardboard coffee cups, plastic or bamboo cutlery, the soy sauce sachets, or bottles," Ms White said.
North East Waste and Positive Change for Marine Life helped Council with the first waste audit.
