Bunbury resident urges community to remove beach litter

Following World Oceans Day on Monday, a Bunbury resident has called for the community to be more conscious and responsible of their beach litter.

Jason Robbins walks along Back Beach each day and found himself continuously picking up rubbish, to the point where he began to bring a bag to fill each trip.

Mr Robbins encouraged the community to make more of an effort to do their part for the beach.

“Obviously after storms the rubbish does tend to come in a lot more, but it does highlight how much is in the ocean,” he said.

If everyone takes care of themselves and their own rubbish then we wouldn’t have this problem to start with.

Mr Robbins said he did not think it was a hard thing to do.

“Most people complain about rubbish down there, but a lot of them tend to be people who will leave their rubbish,” he said.

“We just take a couple of bags each trip, almost like we’re looking for gold, but we’re just picking up plastic.”

Mr Robbins said everyone’s actions could create momentum.

“Rather than try and deal with things on a global scale, just take a look at your own community and see what change you can make there,” he said.

If everyone did their own little bit in their community that will multiply out.

Beach litter was the target of World Oceans Day this week.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said beach litter killed and injured marine life and could injure beachgoers.

“Plastics in particular can break down into microplastics, which are being increasingly recognised as a health concern for both marine animals and humans,” he said.

Mr Dawson encouraged everyone to “take three for the sea” when leaving the beach to help make a difference.