Community called to help clean up Canberra

Canberrans are being urged to work together to help make the ACT the cleanest city in the country on Clean Up Australia Day, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, said today.

Mr Corbell joined Clean Up Australia Day Chairman, Ian Kiernan AO, at Amaroo Oval in Gungahlin today to launch the annual event and to release the results of Clean Up Australia's latest report.

"The 2011 Rubbish Report reveals 8,272 people in Canberra took the time to clean up the Territory on Clean Up Australia Day last year, with approximately 264 tonnes of rubbish removed," Mr Corbell said.

"The ACT is one of the leading jurisdictions in waste management in Australia with more than 70% of waste generated in the ACT reused or recycled. Canberrans should be very proud of the efforts we take to care for our environment, however we can always do more.

"Clean Up Australia Day, on Sunday 4 March 2012, is an ideal time to make positive changes to our behaviour and attitudes on waste to preserve Canberra's environment."

Mr Corbell said the ACT Government commits more than $1.2 million annually to the removal of litter and illegal dumping from public areas.

"The ACT Labor Government is committed to reducing waste to landfill and protecting the environment," he said.

"Last year we saw the introduction of new legislation to ban lightweight plastic shopping bags in the Territory as well as new laws to reduce the number of shopping trolleys that go missing and litter the ACT."

The Government remains focused on working closely with the community and business to implement efficient waste management solutions. The ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025: Towards a Sustainable Canberra will be a guiding document for the development of solutions for waste issues in the ACT.

"This annual event is the perfect opportunity for us to come together to help clean up our local parks and waterways and to think about how we can reduce our impact on the environment.

"I encourage the Canberra community to continue to reduce waste generation and increase recycling efforts, on Clean Up Australia Day and beyond, and contribute towards making Canberra a more sustainable city."

For more information or to register as a volunteer visit http://www.cleanupaustralia.org.au/