Over a tonne of metal, half a tonne of plastics and fabrics in rubbish collected for Rokeby’s Clean Up Australia Day
About two tonnes of rubbish – including over 100 homemade bongs – were removed from Rokeby Hills on Clean Up Australia Day by dedicated volunteers. See the before and after pictures.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than 100 homemade bongs, over a tonne of metal, half a tonne of plastics and fabrics and 200 kilograms of wood have been removed from Rokeby Hills thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers.
Rokeby Hills Community Landcare Group convener BJ Walker said the parcels of land the group looks after are looking much different since the group did its first Clean Up Australia Day in 2022.
“This year was probably one of the bigger ones,” Mr Walker said, with the 500 kilograms of plastics and fabric to go to landfill and the rest of the items to be recycled.
At Rokeby Hills 18 volunteers dedicated their weekend to cleaning up their local area with tonnes of rubbish being removed and sorted including six wheelie bins of cans and bottles.
Clean Up Australia day has been running for 35 years and this year more than 800,000 volunteers picked up rubbish at more than 8,000 clean up events across the country.
Chair of Clean Up Australia Pip Kiernan said soft plastics and cigarette butts were among the most commonly reported items.
Mr Walker said the group cleaned up items such as an abandoned tent with household items left behind including dirty laundry and kitchen items, syringes, car parts and cars which are left all through the reserve.
He said community clean ups are one of the best ways to discourage littering by showing people the community wants the area clean.
“Keeping an area clean is the best way to avoid it,” Mr Walker said.
“If people see people dumping rubbish in there they will do it themselves.
“When people participate in events like Clean Up Australia Day and when we can feel comfortable to pick up litter in the park while watching the kids the more likely people will see it as a norm and feel accepted to do the same,” he said.
Items collected in 2025 at Rokeby Hills:
-500kgs of Plastic and Fabric went to landfill
All other rubbish will be reused/recycled including:
– 1000kgs of steel, car parts, and other metals
– six wheelie bins of aluminium cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles
– 30 car tyres
– 100+ homemade bongs
Other interesting/concerning things found on clean ups include.
– Stolen Motorcycles
– Relics from past farming practices in the area.
– Vintage car parts
– Bongs, Needles, Pregnancy tests etc
Trailer fire at northern Tas petrol station
Fire crews are currently on the scene of a semi-trailer fire in northern Tasmania, located next to a petrol station. The latest.
Impromptu PM drops in for Bass lunch, battery scheme spruik
It’s the last ditch attempt at campaigning as we approach next Saturday’s election date. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made his third visit to Tasmania for a volunteer BBQ.