The Latest Breaking News from Clean Up Australia

Butt it out: cigarettes dominate yearly litter count

Australians have been urged to bin their butts as the plastic ends of cigarettes rank as the most pervasive source of discarded pollution.

AAP · Feb 3

More than 800,000 chip in to clean up tonnes of rubbish

From bras to buckets, an army of volunteers has picked up weird and wacky objects among tonnes of rubbish in the largest national environmental clean-up.

AAP · Mar 1, 2025

'Triple threat' vapes littering streets and parks

More disposable vapes are ending up in streets, parks and waterways, underscoring the need for a nationally-consistent recycling scheme.

AAP · Feb 12, 2025

Call for national rules to sort out plastic recycling

Australians continue to incorrectly recycle plastic waste, with calls for the federal government to implement consistent guidelines nationwide.

AAP · Jun 30, 2023

The healing powers of Australia's Clean Up campaign

Aussies will rally this weekend for Clean Up Australia Day but it's more than just a boost for nature. It's also a lesson in the restorative power of community.

AAP · Mar 3, 2023

Woolworths and Coles change strategy as report reveals two-thirds of Aussie rubbish is plastic

Woolworths and Coles adopt new strategies to phase out plastic bags from stores as report reveals two-thirds of rubbish is plastic.

The New Daily · Feb 16, 2023

Stop tossing your spent vapes and e-cigs: you're breeding a new waste pandemic

Vaping, or using electronic cigarettes, not only pollutes the surrounding air, it also creates a new contaminated e-waste stream.

The Conversation · Feb 16, 2023

Rise in plastic trash reflects worrying consumer trend

An annual report that details what clean-up volunteers are finding in the environment is further proof that Australia's plastics crisis is worsening.

AAP · Feb 15, 2023

Environment groups call for urgent action on hazardous waste from e-cigarettes

Head of Clean Up Australia says disposing of vapes is ‘a new and serious environmental issue’

The Guardian - AU · Feb 12, 2023

Clean up day to unmask COVID litter issue

Conservation organisation Clean Up Australia has launched a citizen science project aimed at tackling COVID-19 mask litter.

AAP · Feb 19, 2022