More effective than cleaning up beaches is preventing rubbish from ending up there in the first place. Through the AMDI Database we can identify issues and then work with communities, industry and government to address the problem, creating a source reduction plan. This can include improved infrastructure such as rubbish bins, anti littering campaigns or a change in procedures or formerly polluting practices.
Some of our litter containing programs are:
- Ban on plastic strapping bands in WA: Strapping bands from the lobster industry used to be a significant contribution to marine litter in WA. After the problem was identified through the AMDI the industry was contacted and eventually a legislative change achieved, banning strapping bands on vessels throughout Western Australia.
- Reduction of weather balloons: One hundred weather balloons used to be released every day in Australia by the Bureau of Meteorology with many of them ending up in the marine environment. Through pressure from Tangaroa Blue Foundation alternative satellite technology was implemented, making the use of balloons unnecessary and significantly reducing the number of balloons released.
- Helium balloon releases: Tangaroa Blue Foundation encourages the general public to educate and act against the release of helium balloons for promotional or private purposes.
- Provision of rubbish bins: Tangaroa Blue Foundation collaborates with remote communities to increase the number of rubbish bins, ultimately decreasing the amount of litter that might get washed into the ocean.
- Responsible management of plastic resin pellets: Plastic resin pellets are the raw form of plastic and are often spilled during transport or the manufacturing process, ending up in the ocean and contributing to the microplastic issue. We have worked with the Australian plastics industry to implement an Australian version of the Operation Clean Sweep program that offers solutions to minimise pellet loss.
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