Port Douglas resident Shane Branch last week alerted Tangaroa Blue to a significant amount of litter and illegal dumping around Yule Point. A quick response team was pulled together, and a clean up organised for the Saturday, September 28.

From the road, this area is stunning, with the ocean and palm trees lining the road. But once you get out of your car and walk along the vegetation line, you get to see how much rubbish is thrown out of cars, or left around the car pull-out sections where people stop to check out the view and leave their mess.

In total, 2.3km of coastline was covered by the seven volunteers. Over 141kg was removed, including 22 bags and some bulkier items like tyres.

"More than 80 per cent of this rubbish was litter left by people travelling on the highway."

As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, it still astounds me that people don't either understand or care about what happens to their rubbish when they leave it in the environment, and the small effort it requires to actually take your rubbish with you and dispose of it properly.

Thanks to the amazing volunteers and Cairns Regional Council for allowing us to dispose of the debris for free.

Our next clean up event will be at Cape Kimberley on Oct 27, meeting at 9am at the Cape Kimberley Beach carpark. Another event is on November 9, to Snapper Island. To register for either of these events, please email heidi@tangaroablue.org  or call 0410166684.