A coalition of environmental volunteers has returned from cleaning a remote stretch of beach on the east coast of Cape York of rubbish.

Volunteers from Tangaroa Blue Foundation, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Apudthama Land & Sea Rangers and QPWS Rangers cleaned up the site, called Captain Billy’s Landing, over June 2-10. 

The teams, working as part of the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, removed nearly two and a half tonnes of rubbish from the 7-kilometre stretch of beach.

Not only that, they also documented every single one of the 24,773 separate peices of debris, including 2428 thongs, 2221 plastic bottles, 9536 bits of broken plasatic, 1907 plastic lids, 618m of rope and 518 beach bottles. 

A lot of the debris had international origins and more than 80 per cent of it was plastic.

This data goes into the Australian Marine Debris Database, which is accessed by research organisations including James Cook University to better understand and combat ocean rubbish pollution. 

Ranger In Charge of Heathlow National Park, Peter Dellow, said the the volunteers had made a ‘real difference’ to Captain Billy’s Landing and Cape York.

“Not even howling winds and squally showers could deter this group from doing what they do best - helping to protect our marine environment.

“The threat marine debris poses to our marine environment is of global importance and Tangoara Blue are leading the way in raising awareness and providing real opportunities to help combat this important conservation issue.”