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Tips to keep the seas litter free
From the Coastcare Campaign - Pollute or Protect
Rubbish on beaches is unattractive, dangerous and unhealthy.
Some rubbish can take a long time to break down and can kill wildlife.
- If you have carried it in ... carry it out. Go one
step further. Remove rubbish left by others - if you don't who will?
- Ensure that all rubbish is disposed of properly
on land.
- Minimise the amount of rubbish generated by reusing
bags and recycling containers.
- Don't bury rubbish - it will soon be uncovered by
the tide, animals or peoples' feet.
- When fishing, don't leave bait wrappers or fishing
tackle around.
- On boats ensure that all rubbish is collected and
returned for proper disposal on the land.
Most coastal pollution originates on land. Rubbish thrown
onto streets or oil on the road is washed into storm water drains and
eventually into the sea. Materials put down the sinks and toilets may
also end up in the sea. Here are some things you can do at home to care
for our coast.
- Don't let it get washed down the gutter into a drain.
Make sure all rubbish goes into bins for correct disposal or recycling.
- Engine oils must not be poured into drains but returned
to a garage for recycling.
- Fix up oil leaks on your car.
- Dispose of unwanted chemicals responsibly. Petrol,
paints, thinners, pharmaceutical drugs, and garden pesticides and herbicides,
must not go into the sewers or drains. Your local council can give
advice on their safe disposal.
- Use cleaning products that have minimum impact on
the environment by breaking down quickly. Check the packet to see if
it is biologically soft and has little or no phosphate content.
- Avoid overuse of chemical fertilisers. Nutrient runoff
into water from urban and agricultural land is a major cause of excessive
algal growth.
- Put waste fats and oils into a container not down
the sink. Do not pour milk down the sink. These can be thrown out with
other household garbage.
For further information see:
http://www.nht.gov.au/nht1/programs/coastcare/50-ways.html#care
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