Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Council Thanks Clean-Up Volunteers

Four sets of stairs, car tyres, six shopping trolleys and a mouthguard were just some of the unusual items collected as part of Clean Up, The Mackay Region.

More than three tonnes of rubbish was collected across 11 sites with an impressive 97 volunteers attending.

Clean up locations included Shellgrit Creek, Bridge Road, Sandfly Creek Reserve, Bluewater Trail, Finlayson Point Road, Grasstree Beach, Plane Creek Revegetation Site, Hodges Road, Riverside Drive and North Wall Harbour Beach.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said it was the loyal volunteers who kept these events running year after year.

“We would like to thank everyone for taking the time to help keep our region beautiful,” he said.

“While it was great to see less tonnage overall this year, volume was still at a similar level.

“Volunteers removed large quantities of micro plastics, such as drink bottle lids, plastic water bottles, bread packet clasps, straws and other small pieces of plastic from various clean-up locations.”

Council also thanked event partners including North Queensland Airports, Grasstree Beach Progress Association, Sarina Landcare, Pioneer Catchment Landcare, Mackay Land Rover Club and Mackay Board Riders Club for supporting this event.

Fast facts:

• 3.278 tonnes collected across the clean-ups

• six shopping trolleys and 36 tyres collected

• 531 “Containers for Change” donated to Incredable Tip Shop

• 852kg of resources recovered for recycling and resale at Incredable Tip Shop

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