16 July 2018

Litter survey results: could do better, let’s ‘bin it together’

How tidy our district is depends on the behaviour of people living here as well as the level of services provided, Marlborough District Council’s solid waste manager Alec McNeil says.

Alec says the latest National Litter Count, conducted on behalf of the Packaging Forum, has reported on its findings again - see https://recycling.kiwi.nz/campaigns/put-litter-its-place/

This survey monitors 10 sites in and around Blenheim and reports back on what was observed on the ground. A similar survey was conducted in 2015.

In general terms, Alec says, Blenheim has remained the same over the past three years in the amount of litter observed on the ground, with about 15 items of litter in each 1,000 square metres surveyed.

“Whilst we have the lowest litter count in the country according to the survey results, which is a good result, it’s more important how the community responds to keeping our region free from litter,” he says.

However, the amount of litter in the Blenheim CBD has increased from 2015, which Alec says he is surprised by, as “there is a bin every 20 metres.”

Alec says the litter includes drink bottles, food packaging and other items such as cigarette butts or paper, things that he would like people to think about holding on to until they get to a rubbish bin.

“The amount of litter along waterways has decreased, which could be because of the numbers of people who pick up rubbish while out walking each day, and the community clean-ups that take place regularly.”

“Litter is everybody’s challenge.”

He says there are a number of people in our community who pick up litter daily when out walking and it’s important to recognise their contribution in keeping Blenheim and the Marlborough region as free from litter as possible.

Alec says the Council is working on an education and awareness programme as part of the Marlborough Litter Project.

Further information can be found at https://www.marlborough.govt.nz/services/refuse/marlborough-litter-project

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