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Monday, 18 September 2023

Think twice about litter, public urged

    By Matthew Littlewood

    John Coughlan, Leo Thompson and their dog, Lola, go for a morning walk at Logan Park in Dunedin...
    John Coughlan, Leo Thompson and their dog, Lola, go for a morning walk at Logan Park in Dunedin on Saturday as they help pick up rubbish as part of Keep New Zealand Beautiful cleanup week. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON
    The organisers behind a major cleanup of Dunedin are urging people to think twice before dropping their bottles on the ground.

    More than 100 people volunteered in the Keep Dunedin Beautiful cleanup day on Saturday, with the rubbish bags filling up in a matter of minutes.

    Woodrow Papak, 8, Joel Papak, and Winnie Papak, 6, clean up rubbish at John Wilson Ocean Dr.
    Woodrow Papak, 8, Joel Papak, and Winnie Papak, 6, clean up rubbish at John Wilson Ocean Dr.
    Lead organiser Kelsey Porter said it had uncovered a "lot of glass and plastic", and some unusual finds, such as discarded plush toys.

    "Anything that can be recycled, will be recycled," Ms Porter said.

    "We’ve picked up a lot of bags of bottles already.

    "It’s a reminder for people to think twice about what they leave on the ground, and what it could do the environment," she said.

    Some of the rubbish collected near John Wilson Ocean Dr.
    Some of the rubbish collected near John Wilson Ocean Dr.
    The event was held in conjunction with the Keep New Zealand Beautiful cleanup week, which runs until Friday.

    In 2022, the organisation had over 67,400 volunteers who collected a total of 655 tonnes of waste over an area equivalent to 5751 rugby fields.

    matthew.littlewood@odt.co.nz

     

     

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