Wollongong cleans up

By Michelle Hoctor
Updated November 6 2012 - 1:55am, first published March 6 2011 - 9:51am
Wollongong Lions volunteers John McGowan (left) and Hector Frigo at one of the rubbish collection points.
Wollongong Lions volunteers John McGowan (left) and Hector Frigo at one of the rubbish collection points.
Twins Lucas and Isaac Leonard at work.
Twins Lucas and Isaac Leonard at work.
Joining yesterday’s Clean Up Australia Day event in Wollongong are (from left) Nadia Giusti and Wil, Ella and Chris Duffus. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
Joining yesterday’s Clean Up Australia Day event in Wollongong are (from left) Nadia Giusti and Wil, Ella and Chris Duffus. Pictures: ROBERT PEET

Wollongong City has less rubbish and the environment could not be happier.The weekend turnout for Clean Up Australia 2011 resulted in more than six tonnes of rubbish being collected in the local government area, which is half that collected last year.More than 1200 collectors turned out at 20 registration depots to do their bit, targeting parks, bushland, waterways and roadsides.Wollongong City Council’s environmental education co-ordinator Mike McKeon said the signs were promising for a rubbish-free future.‘‘We’re way down on previous years.‘‘Maybe we’re getting the message,’’ he said.Mr McKeon said the reduction may be in part attributed to most of the heavier items such as cars already being collected in previous years.‘‘But in areas where we used to collect a 25 cubic metre bin load, we’re not collecting that any more,’’ he said.‘‘At City Beach, for example, we used to fill up one bin. Today we got a quarter of it, which is still a quarter too much but there is something happening out there.‘‘But the word is obviously not getting out there enough.‘‘People are still dropping litter.’’Shellharbour City Council offered the incentive of a treasure hunt at Reddall Reserve for anyone who participated, with $1000 in prizes buried in the sand.

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