Clean Up Australia Day 2013

  • Author(s)
    Karen Player
  • Category
    Education
  • Published
    01 March 2013
  • Read time
    2 minutes

Australia produces more waste per person each year than any other country. Since 1990 Australians have been throwing away about 10 million tonnes of waste each year. Every year Australians use around 3.9 billion plastic check-out bags. That's over 10.6 million new bags being used every day!

The best way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Refuse store bags when you buy only a few items or take a reusable bag with you. If you do get plastic bags, reuse them for as long as they hold up.

It's estimated that plastic bags may take between 500 to 1,000 years to breakdown in landfill.

If you want to get involved join the team to Clean Up Australia on Sunday, 3 March 2013.

Find a site near you - www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/join/

In 2012 an estimated 591,400 volunteers cleaned up 16,169 tonnes at 7,363 sites right across Australia. The Clean up Australia team hopes to do better in 2013.

For tips on how to reduce waste and be more sustainabile in your home download the Green Home Guide or visit our website australianmuseum.net.au/Green-Home-Guide

For more information about plastic bags and the environment visit the Planet Ark website plasticbags.planetark.org/about/environment.cfmÂ