Australia’s longest-running national environmental initiative, Clean Up Australia Day, is set to celebrate a major milestone this year.
Organisers are urging Hunter residents to register for the event’s 35th year of bringing communities together across the country to improve the local environment.
Founded in 1990 by Ian Kiernan AO, Clean Up Australia has inspired over 22 million Australians to volunteer for environmental clean-ups over the years. Last year, participants collected around 140,000 bags of litter nationwide, underscoring the ongoing importance of the campaign.
“While we’ve achieved so much since my father started this movement, our fight against litter is far from over. We must shift our habits to focus on prevention and best practices to stop litter from entering the environment,” Chair of Clean Up Australia, Pip Kiernan said.
A recent Clean Up Australia Litter Report revealed that plastics dominate the waste stream, comprising 81% of litter collected. The report also highlighted that waterways remain the most impacted, accounting for 44% of all littered sites. Parks and bushland were also heavily affected, making up 16% and 11% of cleared areas, respectively.
“There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing people from all walks of life unite for the common goal of protecting our precious environment,” Kiernan said.
Participants who register will receive free Clean Up kits with gloves, bags, and other resources, while businesses can join for a small fee. For those unable to participate, donations to Clean Up Australia are welcomed, with every dollar supporting initiatives and resources to empower communities.
The 2025 Clean Up Australia Day is happening on Sunday, 2 March. Visit cleanup.org.au to register.
