Two Dunedin sisters have vowed to keep Harwood beach rubbish free by adopting it as their own.
Laura Rogers (10) and her sister Stephanie (15) live in Harwood, and joined the Keep Dunedin Beautiful Adopt a Spot programme this week.
The programme aims to encourage groups or individuals to look after a small area regularly, by keeping it clean and tidy.
Laura first heard of it after attending the Keep Dunedin Beautiful awards and receiving a brochure.
Harwood beach immediately came to mind as the perfect spot to adopt.
Strong winds blew a lot of rubbish on to the sea wall and frequent walks along the beach left Laura questioning who would allow rubbish to be left there.
She hoped others would get involved in the programme and look after their own area.
"If each person does just a little area, it's going to make a big change," she said.
Keep Dunedin Beautiful co-ordinator Darlene Thomson said the city had an adopt-a-spot programme in place about 15 years ago, in line with programmes run throughout the country.
However, people wanting to adopt roads and highways created health and safety concerns and it was shelved.
It was quietly reintroduced last month with safety guidelines put in place, and people would be steered towards safe areas, she said.
The programme was "really effective" in other parts of the country, and Mrs Thomson hoped it would encourage people to think about their community.
Five people had already adopted a spot, including the Southern Cemetery, she said.
All people had to do was "choose a spot they like and keep it clean", by either removing rubbish, chewing gum, weeds or graffiti.
