Good News for Aussie Beaches: Coastal Litter Drops by Nearly 40% in a Decade

At Take 3 for the Sea, we’re passionate about protecting our oceans from plastic pollution. So we’re thrilled to share some encouraging news: recent CSIRO research has found that plastic waste around Australian coastal cities has dropped by 39% over the past decade. Even better, researchers found 16% more locations with no litter at all! 

Between 2022 and 2024, scientists surveyed six urban regions – Perth, Port Augusta, Hobart, Newcastle, the Sunshine Coast, and Alice Springs – measuring litter from coastlines to inland areas up to 100km away. The study revealed a clear trend: there’s less rubbish in the environment, thanks to improved waste management, community clean-up efforts, and awareness campaigns just like ours. 

Plastic still dominates coastal waste, making up about 75% of the debris found. Common items include polystyrene fragments, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and hard plastic bottle caps. As we have often found ourselves, the type of litter varied by location. Cigarette butts were most common in Newcastle, Perth, and the Sunshine Coast, while beverage cans and wrappers topped the list in Alice Springs and Port Augusta. 

The data also showed that areas near farms, industry, and disadvantaged communities had higher waste levels, highlighting the need for targeted waste solutions and better infrastructure in these regions. 

So, what’s working? Policies like container deposit schemes have already reduced drink container litter by 40%. Plastic bag bans and restrictions on polystyrene packaging are also helping. Public campaigns, like the Five R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, are clearly making an impact. 

This study serves as an important national benchmark for tracking progress, and it proves what we’ve always known: every effort counts. Whether it’s picking up three pieces of rubbish on your beach walk or pushing for stronger policies, together we can make a difference.  

Still, there’s no room for complacency. To keep the momentum going, we need continued commitment from individuals, communities, governments, and businesses. And we must push for upstream changes, rethinking how products are designed, used, and disposed of. 

Let’s celebrate this milestone as a sign that change is possible, and keep working toward cleaner, plastic-free oceans by continuing to unleash the power of 3:  

• Take 3 pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway… or anywhere  

• Take 3 actions to reduce your plastic footprint 

• Take 3 people on the journey with you