Colac Otway Shire’s ‘Bin it or swim in it’ campaign aims to reduce the amount of litter in waterways and out to sea. As part of the promotions, an oversized ‘Butts Out’ figure was paraded along the beach during a surf carnival last January and stopped traffic at the pedestrian crossing before asking people in the shopping area to put their ‘butts in the bin’ to help the sea environment.
“Together with plastic bags, cigarette butts make swimming lethal for fish and other sea creatures and it is important that people near the coast realise that their litter can kill fish, birds and other sea life,” said Colac Otway Shire Environment Officer, Heidi Robinson.
Council’s Stormwater Officer, Justin Franklin together with Heidi Robinson and the ‘Connies’ also spread the message to holiday makers at Apollo Bay’s Music Festival in March 2003. The ‘Connies’ are former tram drivers from Melbourne who are employed by Council to provide information to the general public.
This summer they distributed a series of colourful swap cards explaining the importance of keeping rubbish out of the stormwater drains and seawater. The troupe also distributed drink bottles with the ‘Bin it or swim in it’ slogan to people who are seen to be doing the right thing and throwing their litter in bins.
“One of the most dangerous items are cigarette butts and although they are only small they have many toxic chemicals in them with the discarded filter becoming a small poisonous pellet for fish,” Heidi Robinson said. “Cigarette butts may be small but their numbers add up and when discarded on pavements soon find their way into drains and waterways and out to sea. Every year in Apollo Bay, cigarette butts and plastic bags are found in huge numbers in the clean Up Australia Day event.”
For further information contact Heidi Robinson on (03) 5232 9400.
