By Ben
Coxworth
June 13, 2022
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CSIRO's Dr. Denise Hardesty surveys one of the beaches
included in the study Photo credit: CSIRO
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The study was conducted by a team from Australia's
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), led by Dr.
Kathryn Willis. Based on 563 hands-on coastal inspections, and interviews with
waste managers in 32 municipalities, it follows up on a similar study conducted
by CSIRO in 2013.
All in all, it was found that over a six-year period since
that previous study was conducted, the amount of plastic waste found on
Australian beaches decreased by an average of 29 percent. The scientists
believe this reduction was due mainly to three factors.
First and foremost, it is thought that a large role was
played by programs which make waste reduction more economically feasible. Such
programs could include curbside pickup of discarded plastic items for
recycling.
Secondly, the researchers believe that increased vigilance
against the illegal disposal of trash at sea – and the fining of people or
groups that commit such crimes – has been a major factor. And finally, planned
activities such as voluntary cleanup initiatives were said to play a large
role.
Tellingly, it was found that municipalities which had not
updated their waste management strategies, or that removed their budget for
coastal waste management, had considerably "dirtier coastlines" than
others that were surveyed over the six-year period.
"Whilst plastic pollution is still a global crisis and
we still have a long way to go, this research shows that decisions made on the
ground, at local management levels, are crucial for the successful reduction of
coastal plastic pollution," said Willis.
This latest study is part of CSIRO's larger Ending Plastic
Waste Mission, which is aimed at achieving an 80-percent reduction in plastic
waste entering the Australian environment by 2030.
Source: CSIRO