The gloves are on for Clean Up Australia Day

Published on 18 February 2026

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Scenic Rim community members are being encouraged to get the gloves on, roll up their sleeves and join in the nationwide effort to help protect the environment on Clean Up Australia Day on Saturday 1 March.

More than 23 million volunteers have participated in Clean Up Australia Day during the past 36 years, removing hundreds of thousands of ute loads of litter one piece at a time from more than 261,000 locations across the country.

Council's Parks and Biodiversity Portfolio Councillor Amanda Hay urged community groups and schools to get involved in Clean Up Australia Day 2026 to help protect the natural environment for which the Scenic Rim is renowned.

"Clean Up Australia’s 2025 Litter Report shows that plastics represent more than 80 per cent of all litter found in streets and natural areas," she said.

"This represents an immense challenge, with the ongoing problem of soft plastics and packaging which pose a threat to our wildlife and the health of our waterways.

"Carelessly discarded cigarette butts are another key concern, not only for the bushfire risk they present but also the toxic waste and microfibres they release as they take up to 30 years to decompose."

Batteries were found at more than 23 per cent of Clean Up Australia Day sites nationwide in 2025, an increase over the previous year.

Council's Director Infrastructure Services James Ruprai said that, as litter, batteries release toxins into the environment and heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium and mercury pollute the soil and groundwater.

"It is important that batteries are disposed of correctly and are never put in general waste bins as they can cause fires when compressed - the recent fire at the Bromelton landfill a reminder of the dangers associated with the incorrect disposal of e-waste," he said.

Scenic Rim's waste education initiatives encourage thoughtful recycling, the reduction of single-use plastics, composting of food scraps and participation in the Containers for Change program as well as Clean Up Australia Day.

"Registration for Clean Up Australia Day is free for community groups and schools and includes a clean up kit with safety gear, bags, and resources to run a safe event," Cr Hay said.