Almost 4,000 kilograms of debris were collected by more than 500 local volunteers from across Queensland during the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up in October.

Plastic lids, plastic bottles, aluminium cans, cigarette butts, broken glass and balloons were the most frequent items collected during the clean-up effort led by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). For two weekends, volunteers scoured 12 sites from Cape York to Bundaberg, who sought to reduce debris in the Reef lagoon. They gathered almost 300 bags of rubbish from beaches, parks and waterways feeding into the Reef catchment.

Australian Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt said that because of the clean-up, the rubbish and litter collected over the weekends would no longer pose a risk to marine life. The initiative has also raised awareness and reminded people not to let their litter bug the Reef, he added.

The items collected contributed to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, taking the number of recorded marine debris data for Australia to more than five million pieces. “With this information we can help create a comprehensive overview of the quantity and types of marine debris found along the Australian coastline and start to identify trends over time,” said Heidi Taylor, a coordinator from the Tangaroa Blue Foundation.

Taylor said the information will also help authorities identify hotspots along the Great Barrier Reef as well as the type and origin of the rubbish collected to help create source reduction plans with the local community and the government.

According to GBRMPA Chairman Dr Russell Reichelt, the great response reflected the long-term commitment and love the Queenslanders have for the Great Barrier Reef and its health. “Reducing marine debris at a local level can have a positive impact across the whole Great Barrier Reef region,” he said.

Last year, Australia came under fire for its management of the Reef, which has lost half of its coral cover in 30 years. However, in July 2015, the United Nations ruled against including it in the danger list, giving the Australian government five years to stop the deterioration of the natural icon.

While UNESCO’s World Heritage committee unanimously ruled that the Reef’s status remains unchanged, Australia was asked to show significant progress in pushing its plan to improve the Reef’s condition by the end of 2016.

The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up is organised by GBRMPA in partnership with the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, Tangaroa Blue Foundation, Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. and Reef Guardian Councils. The initiative also received support through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.

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