We can do better on litter

Embargo: Thursday 6am

Queenslanders have been challenged to clean up their act and make our state the most litter-free in Australia after a national report card showed room for improvement.

Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said the latest figures showed Queenslanders had lifted their game since last year’s Keep Australia Beautiful report into littering trends.

KAB’s research found Queensland litter rates for 2007/08 were better than those of New South Wales and Western Australia, dropping from 86 pieces per 1000sq m to 76, but still above the national average of 68.

KAB looked at 151 outdoor sites and public places throughout Queensland including shopping centres, beaches, highways, carparks, residential and industrial areas. Littering around shops is Queenslanders’ worst habit.

“Queensland now leads Australia in so many areas – let’s make litter another one we can be proud of,” Mr McNamara said.

“It’s so easy to do the right thing. A simple rule is, Would I do this at home? For example, when you pop out from the shops for a smoke, stick your butt in the ashtray.”

Cigarette butts are the most frequently identified item across Queensland, with 36 butts per 1,000sq m (down from 43 in 2006/07) recorded in 2007/ 2008.

Mr McNamara also encouraged Queenslanders to “think clean and green” when they were out. “Piece by piece, every single bit of rubbish you put in a recycling bin is cutting our greenhouse gas emissions.

“The energy saved by recycling one can is enough to run a TV for three hours. Making one can from raw materials uses the same amount of energy it takes to recycle 20.”

The 2007/08 National Litter Index report is available at the KAB website www.kab.org.au

For further information about public place recycling, visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/recycle

Media: Scott Dixon 0439 761 416.