The City of Canada Bay’s litter education and engagement stall attracted strong community interest at the Communities For Communities Family Fun Day on Sunday, 7 June, with over 200 visitors stopping by to learn more about the negative impacts of littering and how to protect our environment.
The interactive stall featured games, educational resources and a popular ‘Guess the number of cigarette butts’ competition, which challenged participants to estimate the number of cigarettes collected during a one-hour clean-up in Drummoyne.
Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the City of Canada Bay, and the final count revealed a staggering 924 cigarette butts, highlighting the scale of this kind of pollution in the area. The competition attracted 92 entries throughout the day, sparking conversations about the environmental impacts of cigarette butt litter, which isn’t biodegradable and breaks down into microplastics that enter our waterways and soil.
The competition winner, Warren Perkins, said visiting the stall had changed the way he thought about cigarette butt disposal and, as a smoker himself, he now has a much better understanding of environmental consequences of littering cigarette butts.
"I learnt that when you throw your cigarette butts on the ground, they go down the drain and they end up in our waterways. The fish eat the microplastic filters and we eat the fish. It is no good…From now on, I am going to carry a little jar and water to put the butt out and put the butts in that,” he said.
City of Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna said that Mr Perkins' comments demonstrate the value of community education initiatives for achieving behavioural change.
"Hearing that someone has changed their behaviour as a result of what they learned at our stall is exactly the outcome we hope to achieve,” he said. “Thanks to everyone who attended the event and got involved. It’s fantastic to see so many people engaging with the activities and learning more about the impact litter has on our environment.”
Adding to the fun were Eaton Theatre Company's roaming magpie performers, who successfully combined education and entertainment to deliver important anti-litter messages. The performers used humour and creativity to engage visitors and raise awareness about the effects of litter on wildlife and the environment.
This project is proudly supported by NSW Government.
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Jar of cigarette butts.
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Child taking part in game.
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Family with magpies.
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Guessing competition.
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Nature hates a tosser campaign pic.
