A local conservation group says there are not enough bins on SA beaches to cater for increased crowds
People shirked bins and left junk strewn over the sand on many beaches yesterday. A conservation group is urging people to adopt the mindset of taking it home.
West & Beaches
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Metropolitan beachgoers should take their rubbish home with them, as there are not enough bins to compensate for the increased traffic on our coast this summer, a key conservation group says.
Chris Lemar, co-founder of Adopt a Spot – an organisation that encourages South Australians to pick a part of the coast to collect waste from frequently – says the litter on metropolitan beaches is the worst he has seen since beginning in 2017.
“I don’t remember it ever being this bad, I think it’s the worst I have seen, especially around the Moana area,” Mr Lemar said.
The organisation’s 300 volunteers based on beaches in Adelaide, as well as the regional coastlines, are collecting an extra 25 per cent of rubbish each day in recent months.
Volunteers collected more than 105,000 cigarette butts from beaches in 2020, and 1736 plastic lids in November and December alone.
Mr Lemar said local travel has increased traffic on beaches, resulting in an increase in litter.
He said there are not enough bins to compensate for the waste, and people should take their rubbish home with them.
“Bins are a big issue, some extra bins are being put out but not enough,” he said.
“Everybody needs to adopt their thinking about taking home whatever it is they bring with them. They’ve got to get into the idea that there’s not going to be enough bins.
“Go down (to the beach) with the purpose of leaving it as beautiful as you found it.”
Henley Beach local Dion Hetherington was disgusted by the litter he found at his local beach on Monday morning.
“It was just a pig sty … it was more the amount of rubbish that was on the sand, not in the square, that was quite shocking,” said Mr Hetherington, 37.
“It makes your blood boil, it’s so irresponsible, I’d like to know who and why.”
Mr Hetherington, who operates the Facebook page South Australian Beaches, shared photos of the waste and had more than 3000 people react to his post.
A spokeswoman from the City of Charles Sturt said they have beach teams who visit their coast daily to monitor waste.
“There are multiple bins available and over the summer months we increase the number of bins to help to manage litter,” the spokeswoman said.
They also empty the bins more frequently, she said.
“At the end of a busy day, some bins may be full. Don’t add your rubbish to the pile, look out for another bin, or take it home with you.”
A City of Holdfast Bay spokeswoman said beach groomers pick up litter from sand, operate seven days a week from October to April, and bins are emptied more frequently during that period on the coast.
Visit sustainablecommunitiessa.org.au to find out how to help keep the coast clean.
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