A GROUP of kayakers will do their bit to improve the environment by cleaning up local waterways on Saturday, March 3.
Redlands Kayak Tours have invited anyone with a kayak to take part in their Clean Up Australia Day efforts at Tingalpa Creek.
In past years the kayakers have picked up larges amounts of rubbish, including bottles, rope and crab pots.
Founder of Clean Up Australia Ian Kiernan urged Queenslanders to don their gloves, grab some bags and clean up a section of their neighbourhood.
Mr Kiernan said smoking-related rubbish represented more than 50 per cent of the rubbish counted by Queensland volunteers last year.
He urged everyone to take responsibility for their rubbish, especially with the Commonwealth Games in April.
“April will be your time to shine as you welcome all the national and international visitors who will flock to the Gold Coast and beyond,” he said.
Mr Kiernan said food packaging rubbish made up a high percentage of the litter reported by volunteers.
“It is just as important to reduce our use of products with excess packaging as it is to responsibly dispose of the rubbish this packaging creates,” he said.
“By consciously choosing items with less packaging we can influence the amount of rubbish that ends up in the waste stream or as litter on our streets and beaches or in our parks, bushland or waterways.”
Mr Kiernan also encouraged people to reduce their use of single-use plastic, including take-away containers, straws, plastic bags and excess packaging.
“Plastic that is not recycled outlives you and me, sitting in landfills and polluting the environment with adverse effects on our land animals and marine-life,” he said.
To register a Clean Up site visit cleanupaustraliaday.org.au.
The kayakers will pick up rubbish in Tingalpa Greek from 9.30am to 11.30am on Saturday, March 3.
Anyone wanting to join in should meet at Lions Park, at the end of Banfield Lane, opposite Capalaba Tavern.
Participants are asked to take their own kayak, gloves and bags to carry the rubbish.
Register your attendance with Katrina by March 1, via admin@redlandskayaktours.com.au, or by phoning 1300 529 258.
