The NSW Government has set the ambitious goal of reducing litter volume by 40 per cent by 2020.
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As part of the task the government’s Litter Regional Implementation Program has awarded the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation waste group $209,900 in funding for two litter prevention projects.
The group will use $106,500 for a source reduction program targeting foreshore reserves and $103,400 to promote litter reduction at main road intersections and tourist hotspots.
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The source reduction project is designed to develop and deliver a range of foreshore reserve litter reduction strategies.
As part of this, workshops will be held with community groups, industry, council and councillors to collect and assess litter data.
Targeted source reduction projects will be rolled out at a minimum of two sites, council rangers will be trained and engaged to target littering on beaches and at foreshore parks, and there will be a number of community driven projects.
The litter reduction project will target roadside litter at main road intersections and tourist hotspots across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
This will include highly visible signage erected at entry and exit points to South Coast and Southern Highlands towns and villages, encourage community litter reporting and raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by litter.
Member for the South Coast Shelley Hancock said program offered funding to the state’s 14 waste groups to support councils to tackle litter problems unique to their communities.
“From roadsides to parks, takeaway containers to drink bottle rubbish, these grants will help combat litter from all angles,” she said.
“These grants will help cut the amount of litter on streets, in parks and waterways.
“It will also help them to tackle litter by identifying hot-spots, running education campaigns and organising clean-ups.
“Furthermore, these important litter reducing projects will be complimented by the Container Deposit Scheme rolling out across the region, helping to keep the South Coast landscape pristine and protect wildlife to the benefit of our local tourism industry and residents.”
To date, the NSW Government has provided $5.64 million grant funding in council litter prevention grants. This includes $1.68 million under the Litter Regional Implementation Program.
More information about the Litter Regional Implementation Program grants is available on the website at: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastegrants/council-litter .