Clean Up Australia urges people to clean up their community on DoSomething Day

Clean Up Australia says don’t wait for the flagship Clean Up Australia Day in March - register a clean up site in your area for DoSomething Day on July 19.

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IMAGINE picking up just one piece of rubbish each day or not using a plastic bag and the impact it will have.

Not only will you be protecting the environment and wildlife but it is a simple way of giving back to the community.

Clean Up Australia is encouraging people to not wait for its flagship Clean Up Australia Day in March to tidy up their neighbourhood but to register a site that needs attention to support DoSomething Day on July 19.

SLSC nippers helping on Clean-Up Australia Day. Photo: David Clark

Residents can also do something to #BanTheBag for Plastic Free July by asking colleagues or friends to put any plastic bags they use on Wednesday, July 19, into a central location.

Count the bags and snap a photo to put on social media with the tagline “Because when the rubbish is gone, nature can carry on” and use the hashtags #dosomethingday #giveyourbest and #banthebag.

Plastic bags can be taken for recycling to your local Coles or Woolworths store.

DoSomething Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals.

It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

Litter collected by community and environmental groups on the sand at Bondi Beach as part of Plastic Free July.

“Australians are do something people – rather than waiting for someone to fix a problem we tend to simply do something about it,” Clean Up Australia managing director Terrie-Ann Johnson said.

July 19 is a perfect time to take just one simple action that will make a difference. Every day is a do something day for Clean Up Australia.

“Take the challenge and register a location that needs some clean up attention, round up those plastic bags that are accumulating in cupboards and drawers, or maybe simply pick up that coffee cup lying on the ground at the bus stop. It all starts with you.”

Cleaning up in the Canterbury Bankstown area.

Since the Clean Up Australia Day event started 27 years ago, volunteers have donated more than 32 million hours towards caring for the environment, removing the equivalent of 344,000 ute loads of rubbish from more than 171 thousand locations across the country.

Residents, community groups, schools and businesses are invited to help recycle plastic bags or Clean Up Australia every day by slapping on gloves and collect rubbish for Clean Up Australia Every Day.

Clean up sites can be a one-off, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly event.

Registered sites will receive a kit to get them started for the clean-up event.

To register a site, visit cleanupaustraliaday.org.au

Register a clean up event for Dosomething Day. PICTURE: Bradley Cooper

WHAT IS DO SOMETHING DAY?

Do Something Day on July 19 is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals. It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

There are endless ways you can help others - and you don’t need to wait until Dosomething Day to start. However, as July 19 is the focal point of this celebration, it would be great to turn your attention to it on that day. Let the “kind-o-miser” generate a kind deed sugestion for you to do. Try our Do Something Day Quiz which will help match you with a charity that reflects your ideals.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet, Instagram or Facebook a picture that captures the spirit of kindness and generosity on Do Something Day - and use the hashtags #dosomethingda y and #giveyourbest. It could be a picture of a volunteers at charity you are already involved with. It could be a picture acknowleding someone in your community who selflessly works for others. It could be a snap of the nice person who serves your coffee every day with a smile. so many ways to to acknowledge the kindness in our community.