Plastic litter along Australia’s coastlines has fallen by more than 33 per cent over the past ten years, according to new research from the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
The study involved surveys of inland, riverine, and coastal areas in six major metropolitan regions: Hobart (TAS), Newcastle (NSW), Perth (WA), Port Augusta (SA), Sunshine Coast (QLD), and Alice Springs (NT).
Dr. Denise Hardesty, CSIRO Senior Research Scientist and co-author, noted that with an estimated 53 million metric tonnes of plastic predicted to enter aquatic ecosystems globally by 2030, the drop in pollution is a promising sign.
“Plastic makes up around 75 per cent of the rubbish on our beaches, and flexible plastics like food packaging are particularly dangerous to wildlife,” Hardesty said.
“In addition to a 39 per cent reduction in coastal plastic waste, 16% more of the areas surveyed were completely free of plastic debris.”
While Newcastle, Perth, and the Sunshine Coast saw notable declines in plastic pollution, Hobart and Port Augusta experienced increases.
“Although challenges remain, the overall decline shows that Australians are increasingly aware of plastic’s impact on communities, nature, and health,” Hardesty said.
The team recorded 8,383 pieces of debris across 1,907 surveys within 100 kilometres of each city. The most commonly found items were polystyrene (24 per cent) and cigarette butts (20 per cent), followed by food wrappers, bottle lids, and plastic fragments.
Key debris by location included:
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Alice Springs: beverage cans
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Hobart: beverage bottles
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Newcastle: cigarette butts
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Perth: cigarette butts
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Port Augusta: food wrappers and labels
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Sunshine Coast: cigarette butts
Dr. Steph Brodie, CSIRO Research Scientist and co-author, explained the surveys help reveal debris hotspots and the links between land use, socio-economic factors, and environmental waste.
“We found that more densely used and economically disadvantaged areas tended to have more debris,” Dr. Brodie said.
“Knowing what and how much plastic is out there helps shape effective waste management policies and educational campaigns.”
The findings, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin under the title “Drivers of environmental debris in metropolitan areas: a continental scale assessment”, compare data from a decade ago and build on earlier results showing a 29% national reduction in plastic waste.