How can you help?

Often people are worried about environmental issues, but do not feel like they can do much to help. There are many ways people can take action on issues.

We can all take part, and we must work together to reduce the amount of litter around us.

Garden waste/food scraps

Don't sweep grass clippings and garden waste into gutters. When it rains, all of that garden waste is washed down into the stormwater system, and can end up in our waterways. It can also block stormwater drains, and could cause floods when there is a lot of rain.

You can use a compost bin or worm farm that will provide you with natural material to improve your garden soil much more cheaply than materials bought at a store. Another use for leaves and lawn clippings is as mulch. This means that you do not need to water as much and this can save you money. It is important to know that water is something that is very precious and needs to be conserved. There are times where there have been water restrictions in certain places at certain times of the day. You may be able to find out more about this. Another good thing about using mulch on your garden is that it helps to stop weeds growing. Some people at home hose down concrete paths and driveways rather than sweeping. It may seem a lot easier, but the dirt and debris end up in the stormwater system, polluting our waterways. The broom and a little effort and energy from you will also save you money by cutting your water bill and it may make you a bit fitter.

Household chemicals

Never pour chemicals into the gutter. They can be poisonous to animals and birds and pollute our waterways.

Washing cars

To stop soapy water, mud oil and grease from being washed into our stormwater drains, don't let the runoff enter the gutter when washing your car. If washing your car on your lawn or nature strip, avoid strong detergents as these can damage the grass. Most commercial carwashes use recycled water, and so are worth a try.

Dog poo

Take a plastic bag, or other suitable container, to collect those little messages your dog leaves behind when you go for a walk. Just leaving them there is unpleasant for those who come after you. Many local councils have local laws in place to help fix this unpleasant problem on their streets and in their parks. Some provide plastic bags and special bins in their parks.

Shopping bags

Plastic bags are a big problem if they get into streams. Plastic shopping bags look like jellyfish in the water, and marine creatures can think that they are food. Wildlife such as ducks, platypi or seals might even die after getting tangled in plastic. Plastic shopping bags can be reused for things such as storing away clothes and shoes, carrying your lunch to school or for sorting out collections of cards or toys. Often large supermarkets have collection points for bags in their stores, and the plastic from these is recycled by the supermarket.

Helping out community groups

There are many organisations that involve themselves in fighting litter. Keep Australia Beautiful provides information on their local award programs – these are Sustainable Cities and Tidy Towns. Your local council will be able to tell you of groups in your area. If there is no group in your area looking after an area of beauty, or an area that may need some help, speak to your local council about how you and your class can be involved. You may need to get permission first from parents and guardians.

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