Living Here
Gladstone Region schools make LEAPs and bounds in litter prevention
Ten Gladstone Region schools are making leaps and bounds in litter prevention with impressive results returned from the first LEAP schools’ education and sorting round, facilitated by Council.
Gladstone Region Councillor Darryl Branthwaite said in the six months since 28 heavy-duty litter capture devices (drain buddies) were installed in storm drains within and surrounding the schools, a staggering 8876 pieces of human-generated debris was captured and sorted by students.
“The aim of the project is to provide opportunities for students to learn first-hand about what kind of waste would normally wash down the drain and into our region’s waterways,” Councillor Branthwaite said.
“Doing this will improve awareness of stormwater pollution, environmental conservation and open up the discussion of ways we can all prevent litter and manage this issue.”
The top five categories of litter collected were:
- Film remnants (pieces of soft plastics not clearly distinguished, e.g. small torn-off corner piece of packaging) – 1762
- Confetti/glitter – 1548
- Confectionery – 1339
- Straw Wrappers – 862
- Foil – 795.
Cr Branthwaite said data collected will be used to support ongoing litter monitoring and reduction campaigns. It will also be uploaded to the Australian Marine Debris Database, making it available for researchers and litter reduction organisations.
The program is run in collaboration with participating Reef Guardian Schools, Cleanwater Group and Tangaroa Blue.
On completion, each participating school will be provided a display containing their captured litter, with the final schools’ education and sorting round due to take place next month.
Please visit www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/environment to see which schools are participating in the project and for more information about conservation and initiative programs.
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