As you stroll, cycle or boat along the Yarra River this summer, take time to consider how you can help us keep it clean and healthy. Three billion pieces of litter wash into Melbourne’s waterways through stormwater drains every year, and we’ve removed 6750 tonnes of it over the past decade. Councillor Cathy Oke, Chair of the Environment portfolio, said the city is using smart technologies to manage waste in our waterways more efficiently and sustainably, but we also need to cut waste at its source. ‘Our approach to keeping waterways clean and healthy includes litter traps, people power, water sensitive urban design, stormwater capture, and our recently-installed Seabins,’ Cr Oke said. ‘We’re always improving our processes, but no one method provides a silver bullet. And what happens upstream always makes its way downstream.’ What is a Seabin? A floating rubbish bin that moves up and down with the tide to trap litter and debris. Research shows most of the litter in stormwater comes from shopping precincts, on-street collections, tips and recycling depots. With this in mind, we are working with charity Tangaroa Blue, that crusades against marine debris, to inform our litter source reduction plan. ‘Tangaroa Blue is analysing the litter we collect in our Docklands waterways, which will help us better understand how we can make a difference,’ Cr Oke said. ‘To help stop waste at its source, I encourage Melburnians to recycle as much as possible, reduce the amount of packaged food you buy, say no to single-use plastic, and always dispose of rubbish mindfully. ‘If everyone works together, we can protect our beautiful waterways and ecosystems for future generations.’ Andrew Kelly is one of our city’s most passionate advocates for our waterways. As Yarra Riverkeeper, he patrols the river, educates the community, and lobbies for improved … Continue reading Smart solutions for waterway waste