HALF A CENTURY OF ‘BEING A TIDY KIWI’

Iconic charity celebrates 55 years of Keeping New Zealand Beautiful. The phrase ‘Be a Tidy Kiwi’ is deeply rooted in Kiwi culture, stemming back to the 1970s campaigns by environmental charity Keep New Zealand Beautiful that encouraged New Zealanders to take a mindful approach to disposing of their litter. Now, a full 50 years on from the launch of that iconic campaign, Keep New Zealand Beautiful continues to build on a rich legacy by educating, inspiring and empowering Kiwis.

2018 LITTER BEHAVIOUR STUDY: KEY FINDINGS

• 78% of items littered are cigarette butts

• Almost half of all littering happens within 5 metres of a bin • 16% of Kiwis litter

THE 2019 NATIONAL LITTER AUDIT: KEY FINDINGS

• Cigarette butts were the most frequently identified item nationally,

with 39 butts recorded per 1000m²

• Disposable nappies represented the largest contribution to the estimated

national litter volumes, recording 1.50 ltr of volume per 1,000 m²

• Glass beer bottles (less than 750 ml, all colours) represented the largest contribution to the national litter weights, recording 0.12 kg of weight per 1,000 m²

• Illegal dumping contributed the largest proportion to the total estimated litter volume at highway sites nationally, recording 17.36 ltr per 1,000 m² Likewise, illegal dumping represented the largest contribution to the estimated national railway site litter volumes, recording 11.93 ltr of volume per 1,000 m²

• This report found that 99% of New Zealanders believe it is crucial for our country to maintain its green image, with 93% believing it is very important not to litter.