Fight to turn tide on waste

CITIZEN scientists are being called upon to clean up our beaches and collect data, as part of a Coalition-led reef protection program.

Now in its second year, the LNP’S $5 million, five-year “Reef Clean” program requires a force of volunteers to hit the region’s beaches and collect rubbish, with each piece recorded on a national data base.

Special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Warren Entsch said the month-long initiative was the first of its kind to implement a public database for reef management.

“By 2050, the weight volume of plastics in the ocean will be greater than the weight volume of fish so it really drives us to make a difference,” Mr Entsch said.

“We’ve got to become the best in the world because it’s not just about cleaning up our own backyard; the sources are coming from elsewhere, including our neighbours, so we’ve got to provide initiatives and education to other countries as well.”

Mr Entsch said that more than 11 tonnes off rubbish was collected during the event last year, highlighting the need to need to stop using single-use plastics.

“You have to understand this is a problem that only started about 30 to 40 years ago when plastics were introduced,” Mr Entsch said.

Organiser Heidi Taylor said it would be working with communities and councils to analyse local data and implement practical waste reduction plans.

“Removing it (plastic) while it is intact is vital because removing it while it is micro plastics is next to impossible,” Ms Taylor said.

“When you look at how long does the legacy of a beach clean-up last, it’s literally until the next tide but if data is collected in a consistent way and housed in a national database it means that data can be used again and again with more value and we can tackle this from the clean-up side as well as prevention at the source.”

Townsville’s first Reef Clean event will be held at Rollingstone Beach from 8.30 to 1pm, today.