Our mission is to inspire and mobilise communities to care for and protect our environment, eliminate litter, and end waste.
What started as a simple idea from an “average Australian” wanting to make a difference in his own backyard, has now grown to become the nation’s largest community-based environmental event.
It’s hard to believe that this initiative was the inspiration of one man, Ian Kiernan, AO. An avid sailor, Ian was shocked and disgusted by the pollution and rubbish that he continually encountered in the oceans of the world. Taking matters into his own hands in 1989, Ian organised a community event called ‘Clean Up Sydney Harbour’ with the support of a committee of friends. He expected just a few hundred volunteers. Instead, 40,000 people showed up, sparking a national movement.
Australia now produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 100kg per person. Of this, only 13% of plastic is recovered and 84% of it is sent to landfill.
More concerningly, around 130,000 tonnes of the plastic we consume contaminates the marine environment each year.
By 2025 it is predicted that 99% of seabirds worldwide will have ingested plastic.
Of course, we know Australia’s environmental challenges can’t be solved in just one day. That’s why we collaborate with community, government, and businesses to find real solutions to help us all live more sustainably, every day.
As Australia’s waste challenges continue to grow, it’s clear that we all need to do our bit and support solutions that move us towards a circular economy – where everything is a resource, and there is no such thing as waste.
Learn more about the issues and what you can do to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill each year.
