Wednesday 09 September

Great Northern Clean up call to the Cairns Region

Cairns Regional Council residents are being asked to don their rubber gloves for a day and help clean up the environment for the inaugural 'Great Northern Clean Up Australia' days on Saturday 3 – Sunday 4 October.

Mayor Val Schier and Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan AO launched the inaugural Great Northern Clean Up Australia days in Cairns on Tuesday 8 September.  They highlighted the rubbish problem areas volunteers will be focusing on as part of the clean up.

With only 4 weeks to go, Great Northern Clean Up Australia urgently needs residents to register a site that needs cleaning up and supervisors for sites.

Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan AO said volunteering for just a few hours during that weekend was all that was necessary to make a big difference.

“Australians are pretty good at recycling but half the rubbish we produce is still heading to landfill, for which we are fast running out of space, or it is being dumped into our natural environment,” said Mr Kiernan.

“Paper, cardboard, metal and most types of plastic can be recycled, while particularly disused building materials can also be reused. Waste can be easily turned into a valuable resource.”

Mayor Val Schier said “Cairns Regional Council is supporting the Great Northern Clean Up Australia days and I urge everyone in the Cairns Region to take up the challenge on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October.   It’s not too late to get involved, simply register online or turn up on the day and register as a volunteer. “

Registration is now open and will be available until 25 September.  To register a Great Northern Clean Up site or to volunteer go to www.cleanup.org.au or freecall 1800 CUA DAY (1800 282 329).

For further information contact Alana Mew, 0423 377 567.