Melbourne, Australia – Volunteers from UPF-Victoria and WFWP-Victoria joined together for Clean Up Australia Day on March 2, 2024, to address environmental problems, while also promoting education and community connection. Clean Up Australia, a not-for-profit environmental organization, organizes this community activity on the first weekend of March every year.
The volunteers, with families and friends, came together on Wellington Road in Lysterfield, then divided into two groups, working in opposite directions. Teams worked on either side of the road to collect large amounts of roadside litter.
Sadly, there are many single-use plastic water bottles, soft-drink cans, fast food containers, and plastic wrappings that are thrown out of car windows as people drive by. Garbage bags falling off utility trucks, and people pulling off the road to dump their garbage, are also problems on these fast-paced and busy arterial roads.
Participants took a break to enjoy a BBQ lunch. As the day carried on, it was very inspiring to see everyone stepping up to make a difference.
The collected bags of garbage were turned over to the Cleanaway transfer station in Lysterfield. Cleanaway is one of the largest waste management companies in Australia. It adheres to the highest regulatory and environmental standards in collecting, processing, treating, recycling and disposing of waste.
It was a rewarding day with a great outcome. Reflecting on the day, participants called it a fun, great day with lovely people, and a great way to get the community involved in keeping the environment clean.
