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A regular beach rubbish survey on the West Coast is showing relatively low levels of rubbish compared with other parts of the country.
Marine ranger Don Neale has been running surveys at West Coast marine reserves since 2022 to measure the impact of rubbish in the marine environment over time.
Don says rubbish levels are higher at sites closer to townships and settlements, but overall, the rates are low compared with other regions.
“In a 20m by 100m plot we typically find fewer than 50 bits of rubbish. That’s still quite a lot for a remote bit of coast, but in some other parts of the country they are finding hundreds of items.
“This monitoring is in conjunction with Sustainable Coastlines, an organisation supporting citizen science efforts to understand the impact of rubbish around Aotearoa. Anyone can get involved – some West Coast schools are also taking part by monitoring rubbish on their nearby beaches.”
Insights from Sustainable Coastlines’ Litter Intelligence monitoring are sparking change.
Don says a manufacturer in the North Island switched from plastic to cork spacers after waste specific to their plant became a common fixture in the surveys. Sustainable Coastlines uses the data to advocate for clean coasts.
Sustainable Coastlines communications manager Helen Adams-Blackburn says that while the West Coast records the lowest regional litter density, there is still work to do.
“Population has a big impact on how much litter we see, as do currents and coastline geography. Regardless of what makes its way to the beach, everyone can still protect our ocean and wider environment by finding alternatives to plastics in their daily lives and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.”
Don says bale wrap is one of the most common items found at West Coast sites. “This tells us these materials aren’t making it into recycling or other suitable waste facilities. It’s a reminder people need to reduce the rubbish they create and dispose of it thoughtfully.
“Plastic rubbish is a particular problem because it doesn’t break down in the environment.
“Wildlife might eat it or become entangled in it; it contaminates food and water and enters the food chain. People can always be nurturing by limiting the amount of plastic waste they create and making sure it finds the recycling or waste bin. Everybody has a part to play.”
