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Media Resource Centre

Media Resources for Clean Up Australia Day 2012

Background
Media Releases
Promotional Materials
Media Contacts

Background

In 1989, Ian Kiernan AO, after sailing solo around the world and seeing the pollution and rubbish in what should have been pristine oceans, had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard - Sydney Harbour.

Clean Up Sydney Harbour Day in 1989 received enormous public response with more than 40,000 Sydney-siders donating their time and energy to clean up the harbour. Rusted car bodies, plastics of all kinds, glass bottles and cigarette butts were removed by the tonne.
The idea of a clean up day had ignited an enthusiasm and desire among the community to get involved and make a difference to their local environment themselves.

The next year Clean Up Australia Day was born. Ian and his committee believed that if a capital city could be mobilised into action, then so could the whole nation.

Almost 300,000 volunteers turned out on the first Clean Up Australia Day in 1990 and that involvement has steadily increased ever since with millions of Australians volunteering over the 22 years and collecting over 237,500 tonnes of rubbish.
Since then Clean Up Australia has evolved into an organisation that works with the community, government and business to provide practical solutions to help us all live more sustainably every day of the year.
Statistics

In 2011 more than 565,510 volunteers across 7,400 sites removed an estimated 16,464 tonnes of rubbish across Australia.
80% of the rubbish collected on Clean Up Australia Day is recyclable.
Cigarette butts make up the largest percentage of a single item collected on Clean Up Australia Day.
Since the event started Australians have devoted more than 24 million hours towards caring for the environment through Clean Up Australia day and collected over 237,500 tonnes of rubbish.

Clean Up Australia Day 2012
WHAT: Australia's biggest community participation event. Get your Clean Up Team together and register your chosen Clean Up Site or let us know some of the rubbish hotspots in your local area.
WHEN: Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday, 4 March 2012; Business Clean Up Day - Tuesday ,28 February 2012; Schools Clean Up Day - Friday, 2 March 2012.
WHERE: Local rubbish hotspots nationally
WHO: Everyone is welcome - friends, family, kids, community groups, work colleagues, organisations or anyone else.
HOW: Register your Clean Up Site and local rubbish hotspots for Clean Up Australia Day 2012 now on www.cleanup.org.au or call 1800 CUA DAY for more information.

Download full media backgrounder (pdf)

Media Releases

Media Release - 9 January 2012

Registrations now open to help Clean Up Australia

The race is on to register Clean Up sites for 2012. Mark your calendar - the annual Clean Up Australia Day will be 4 March 2012 and the Clean Up Team has their sights set on increasing the number of site registrations.

In 2011 more than 565,510 volunteers across 7,400 sites removed an estimated 16,464 tonnes of rubbish across Australia. Clean Up Australia's Chairman and Founder, Ian Kiernan AO, is confident that 2012 will be even bigger.

"We're urging all Australians to take notice of clean up hotspots in your local area and let us know where they are - whether you can help out on the Day or not," said Mr Kiernan.

"Your local park, waterways, beaches, road sides or back alleys are key areas and we are asking you to join the team by letting us know where these areas are."

"Everyone can do their bit for Australia, individually or as part of a team. Clean Up Australia Day is a simple way you can clean up, fix up and conserve our greatest resource - Australia."

"Think of the places that are important to you - your local park, sporting fields, beaches, walking tracks, neighbourhood streets and bike ways - and pull together your own team to join Team Clean Up."

In 2012 hundreds of thousands of volunteers will take to the streets with white and yellow bags and don their gloves to clean up their local community.

Registrations for Clean Up Sites are now open to join Team Clean Up in 2012. To register go to: http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au

Over the last 21 years an estimated 237,500 tonnes of rubbish have been removed from our environment on Clean Up Australia Day. But with every Australian still producing approximately 2 tonnes of garbage a year, we still have a long way to go.

Download full media release 9/1/2012 (pdf)