Volunteers taking part in a litter clean-up project in Wyndham have collected almost 18,000 kilograms of rubbish since 2015.
The Werribee River Association (WRA) first began litter projects back in 2013, working with an alliance of groups, Wyndham council and Melbourne Water.
The WRA currently supports four community Litter Blitz groups, which operate under the Beach Patrol umbrella.
Volunteers from the four groups have spent more than 3200 hours cleaning up rubbish in the past five and a half years.
Beach Patrol 3030, which commenced in 2015, meets on the second Sunday of the month.
Volunteer co-ordinator Rob Bradley said: “Our group has a great sense of community with people of all ages and backgrounds taking part”.
Love Our Street 3030, which started in 2018, meets on the fourth Sunday of the month.
Co-ordinator Lisa Field said the group picked up litter that flows into Werribee’s drains and waterways.
“Microplastics pollution is harmful to wildlife and human health – that’s why we have to do something about it,” she said.
The third group, Love Our Street 3029, is based in Hoppers Crossing and Tarneit. Supported by co-ordinators Karen Hucker and Ruth Milhecic, it meets on the third Sunday of the month.
The fourth group, Love Our Street 3024, meets on the first Saturday of the month in Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes.
Co-ordinator Melissa Newcombe is asking residents to bring along empty, clean toothpaste containers and toothbrushes, as part of a Terra Cycle program that accepts hard-to-recycle items.
WRA and Love Our Street 3029 will hold a special clean-up on Sunday, May 16, starting 10.30am at the Seasons Main Park, Equinox Close, Tarneit. Refreshments will be available after the clean-up and new volunteers are welcome.
Details: werribeeriver.org.au/what-we-do/litterblitz/ or Lisa Field on 0433 559 530.
