VOLUNTEERS have had their work cut out for them this winter, with strong winds and rough seas washing up thousands of pieces of plastic and other rubbish into Mornington Peninsula beaches.
Beach patrols and other volunteer-based groups around the peninsula have been trying to keep the foreshore areas litter free.
This month’s clean-ups saw dozens of volunteers brave the cold, wet conditions to clean up the remnants of recent storms, pulling out hundreds of items from bottles to fishing line.
Much of the plastics and waste washed discovered on the peninsula’s beaches gets trapped in seaweed after washing in from storm water drains.
Big hitters in the weekend’s clean-up at Dromana beach were bottle caps (246), wrappers and packs (350) and small hard plastics (250). There were also 36 cans, 18 glass bottles and 56 plastic cups.
At Fisherman’s and Mothers’ beaches in Mornington, volunteers were shocked by the amount of plastics washed up and trapped in seaweed.
To join or start a Beach Patrol group contact Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s waste and litter education officer at waste@mornpen.vic.gov.au
First published in the Mornington News – 25th July 2023
