Background
The original Litter Trackers project was funded by the Port Phillip Bay Fund, through the Victorian Government with Melbourne Water a partner. It provided a fantastic educational opportunity to reduce litter through education, engaging with schools, councils, community groups, online and with the broader community. GPS tracked bottles were released at events during 2019 from waterways feeding into Port Phillip Bay and progress was able to be monitored from our website, demonstrating, in an engaged way how and where litter travels once it enters our waterways.
This project has had a tremendous social media presence and impact, with worldwide followings.
Subsequently,
- Moreland Council and the Chain of Ponds Collaboration have employed Litter Trackers to help them understand litter movement in the Merri Creek to aid in litter management,
- Bendigo Waterwatch have released our GPS tracked bottles in the Bendigo River as part of their ongoing education program, and
- Coastcare Victoria funded the Litter Trackers ‘Burbs to the Bay project with 4 release events in Greater Geelong and Surf Coast in 2022. The new video of the litter trackers journeys is now available
Achievements
So far, more than 120 bottles have been released at over 25 sites, 5 bottles at each site.
Raise community awareness
- > 30,000 interactions on social media
- 20 press and web articles
- ~600 participants
Education Program
- 23 participating schools
- Corangamite CMA River Detectives activities
- Bellarine Catchment Network BCN Litter Education activities
- Melbourne Water litter education resources
Engagement
- 13 councils
- 22 community groups
Improved understanding
- 20 maps
- 6 animation videos
What have we learnt?
- Litter dropped in our catchments has the capacity to travel long distances, entering the Bay and travelling to foreshores
- Litter can also remain trapped close to its source
- Characteristics of waterways have an influence on the fate of litter
- By involving councils, community groups and schools we create a reinvigorated sense of ownership in this issue that affects us all
If you would like to discuss a Litter Trackers release in your region or for more information go to the litter trackers website or contact Monica.Tewman@rmit.edu.au.
