MORE than 58 cubic metres of rubbish was collected from Eurobodalla streets, parks, roadsides, reserves and beaches on Sunday for Clean Up Australia Day.
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About 230 volunteers took part in the event from South Durras to Dalmeny.
This was despite the day coinciding with several other events in the Shire, such as the Unity Mining protest in Moruya and the Deano’s Memorial Surf Competition at Broulee.
A further 2800 students from 11 schools also cleaned up their local areas on Schools Clean Up Australia Day on Friday.
A Clean Up Australia Day spokeswoman said the most common items collected locally were confectionery packets, plastic and glass drink bottles, paper and cigarette butts.
“Unfortunately cigarette butts and confectionary packets are really common, which has been really damaging to our natural ecosystem,” she said.
The spokeswoman said she was pleased with the turn out, and hoped to see more taking part next year.
“It is a tremendous effort by our local community and the day demonstrates how committed our volunteers and school students are in this shire,” she said.
The Broulee Boardriders conducted their clean up on Saturday, so it did not interfere with Sunday's surfing competition.
On Sunday the Tomakin community attracted a small but dedicated band of volunteers who attacked Melville Point, Jack Buckley Park and George Bass Drive with gusto.
“Our numbers are a little down on last year, whether the weather was a deterrent I’m not sure,” site coordinator Peter Fatches said.
“The good thing about Tomakin is that the locals clean up all year-round.”
Cigarette butts were a major target at Melville Point, and Mr Fatches said the area across the road from The Moorings IGA was always a problem area.
“It’s one of the biggest hot spots because all the rubbish blows over from the IGA car park – mostly plastic and foam packaging,” he said.
Moruya Rotary Club members turned out in force to clean up Chesher Park, next to the Moruya District Hospital.
Even the park’s namesakes Ron and Heather Chesher – as well as Col Chesher who helped establish the park - were getting their hands dirty on the day.
More than 526,268 volunteers donned their gloves and picked up rubbish from about 6165 sites across the nation.
Since the event started 25 years ago Australians have donated more than 28.75 million hours towards caring for the environment through Clean Up Australia Day, removing an estimated 302,213 tonnes of rubbish from more than 151,919 across the country.
