Schools are being urged to join the Youth and Schools Clean Up Australia Day on Friday 1 March. 

Students and teachers are asked to work together to clean up a site within their local community whether it be the school oval, playground, or neighbouring bushland.  

To assist schools, organise and plan, Clean Up Australia has developed a free starter kit including access to lesson plans and resources, as well as bags and gloves. 

Clean Up Australia Managing Director Terrie-Ann Johnson said it was important to show young people how to preserve and care for the environment so they can play a part in establishing a more sustainable and positive future.  

“Clean Up Schools and Clean Up Youth Days are a proactive way to demonstrate that lots of small actions, like picking up litter, can help reduce the pollution clogging our precious parks, bushland, waterways and oceans before it kills our wildlife,” she said. 

“We are fostering our environmental custodians of the future and teaching them that action is louder than words.” 

The 2018 Clean Up Australia Rubbish Report found that in Western Australia litter associated with food and beverage packaging made up 63.1 per cent of the rubbish reported, 7.4 per cent above the national average. 

At 35 per cent, plastic was once again the number one type of rubbish found. 

Ms Johnson urged Australians to switch from single use packaging and take responsibility for our litter when we are on the move.  

“Change starts with you – and we need to make smarter choices every day,” Ms Johnson said. 

If your school would like to be involved, please register at www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au. 

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