Beach Litter ... the curse of the coast
by John Foss, Surfrider Foundation

Litter is a major environmental problem on Australia's beaches.

Each year thousands of tonnes of litter comprising plastic bags, plastic bottles, tangled fishing lines, nets and other rubbish finds its way onto our beaches.

Each year many coastal environment groups like the Surfrider Foundation spend hours combing beaches around the country picking up other peoples litter.

Litter (sometimes referred to as tourist trash) is often left by beach goers or washed onto beaches from ships or boats.

Stormwater also plays a significant roll in polluting our beaches. A plastic bag or cigarette butt dropped in the street at Bondi or Byron Bay could ultimately end up in the ocean. Litter dropped kilometres from the ocean can still find its way to the beach.

Many local councils are doing their bit to integrate litter traps and wetland lagoons into stormwater systems but it requires a massive shift in people's personal behaviour to solve the problem once and for all.

If we don't drop litter any time, any place the problem will quickly go away.

Why is litter such a problem?

Apart from the negative impression it creates at beaches, litter can also harm marine and other wildlife. Plastic bags and bait bags (which can resemble jelly fish in the water) are regularly swallowed by birds and marine wildlife who slowly chock to death.

Fishing litter such as net fragments, ropes and bait bags can entangle marine animals strangling them. It is estimated that at any given time around 500 seals in Tasmanian waters and 45 seals in Victorian waters have Œcollars¹ of plastic litter.

So what is the answer?

Easy everyone needs to stop littering, not just at the beach but everywhere. More specifically if you do go to the beach it is best to simply take your litter home and if possible recycle any cans and plastic bottles.

Litter on beaches is a major problem but it is not the management authorities who should cop the blame for that pile of rubbish on your favourite beach.

At the end of the day it is up to everyone who enjoys the beach to take some responsibility for picking up litter and the best thing we can do is not leave any in the first place!