RYE’S Beach Clean Boards aim to help rid Mornington Peninsula beaches of marine litter and plastic pollution “two minutes at a time”.
Based on the #2minute beach clean boards in the UK, organisers place A-frames along the foreshore near bins encouraging beachgoers to collect litter and then record what they’ve picked up with a #hashtag connected to a social media campaign.
“This project aims to increase awareness of the dangers of litter, especially plastics, to the marine environment, as well as reducing litter on the beach and greater care of our local beaches,” Rye Community House’s Sarah Race said.
“We’re going to collect litter and conduct a litter audit for comparison reporting for our project. The scheme is super popular in the UK and Ireland, and we’re the first to launch something similar in Australia.”
The project is funded through the state government’s Port Phillip Bay Fund. Those involved include the Pt Nepean’s Men’s Shed, Rye Community Group Alliance, Josie Jones and Mornington Peninsula Shire.
Organisers say: “We believe that every piece of litter removed from the beach matters. So, it doesn’t matter if you do two minutes or 30, each and every piece of marine plastic removed from the beach is a piece that will no longer go on to kill.”
Use the hashtag beachclean.net for beach cleaning activities.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 26 November 2019
