VOICE ABOVE WATER is the story of a 90-year-old Balinese fisherman who can no longer fish because of the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean, instead he collects trash in hopes of being able to fish again. The story is a glimpse into how one human is using his resources to make a difference and a reminder that if we all play our part we can accomplish something much greater than ourselves. Watch the movie for free by clicking on the link below. 
https://vimeo.com/495325925
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic #litter #rubbish #trash

Check out these legends - this is what they cleaned up in just under two hours. What a fantastic effort. "What you makes a DIFFERENCE, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." ~ Jane Goodall
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup #cleanup #commumity #cleanup #inspiration #bethechange

Australians throw out 2.7 million single-use or disposable coffee cups every single day. This adds up to 1 billion coffee cups thrown out every year. Many are in the bins on the Manly ferry. Come on, we can do better than this.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #loveManly #Manlyferry #coffee

Don't put your fruit and vegetables in plastic bags. Just leave them loose or upcycle an old t-shirt and make your own reusable produce bags. If you can, opt for items that are package-free. Or, choose items packaged in cardboard or tin instead of soft plastic.
Think about plastic items you frequently buy and whether there is a way to avoid these. If you’re a fan of carbonated water, instead of purchasing it in single-use plastic bottles, consider getting a carbonator. It’s an investment but it will save you money in the long run.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has ~ Margaret Mead
Pic from earlier this year.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup

Inspect your bathroom:
No part of a plastic toothbrush is biodegradable, so try a bamboo toothbrush instead. The cotton bud is another big single-use plastic culprit in the bathroom. Again, the bamboo version is your friend.
Shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, handwash, toner, moisturiser... The list of plastic-packaged products goes on. But there are alternatives. Many of these products come in solid bars with minimal to no packaging. Instead of bodywash or handwash, use a bar of soap. Coconut oil can act as conditioner, moisturiser and makeup remover.
While you’re at it, switch to a recycled toilet paper that isn't packaged in plastic. Some brands deliver in bulk.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree #saynotoplastic #plasticpollutes

This year's Olympic Medals are made from e-waste that the Japanese residents were encouraged to donate.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #recycle #recycling #Olympics #olympics2021

Every little step is worth celebrating. If you can get your produce from a local farmer's market or from a bulk food store, then remember to bring your reusable fruit and vegetable bags with you to the supermarket.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree

Return and Earn machines are closed in Greater Sydney. If you want to donate your 10 cents bottles to "Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew" once the machines are up and running again, you can scan the barcode and then press "PayOut" and we'll use the funds to buy equipment to our volunteers.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #returnandearn #recycling #recycle

That's why we do what we do!
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup

Coles will stop giving away plastic collectable toys such as the popular Little Shop collection at its checkouts amid concerns the items have ended up in landfill and waterways. The decision follows a survey of 9000 Coles customers that found reducing waste and plastic packaging was a key concern among shoppers.
Coles said it would continue to explore other reward programs, citing its popular MasterChef cookware campaign and the Little Treehouse book series made from environmentally sustainable paper.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #coles #plasticfree #beachcleanup #plastic

Who needs plastic when you can get your delish takeout wrapped in a corn husk?! San Miguel de Allende's ban on single-use plastics and styrofoam took effect on January 1st, but that wasn't about to stop street vendors from serving up meals. Instead of tossing corn husks, the excess leaves are given new life as plates which can be composted after use and are completely biodegradable. These simple switches make excellent alternatives
El Chuy
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree

Do you have long hair and need to tie it up when you do ocean activities?
Please make sure you tie it up tightly or even better use a swimming cap. If your hair tie comes out, it can kill wildlife. This is the third "Blind Shark" we have seen dead in a short time on our beaches - suffocated to death because a hair tie got wrapped around its gills. We can do better than this.
Pic: Bold & Beautiful Swimmers
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #shark #hairtie #beachcleanup #saveouroceans #loveManly #Manlybeach #litter

What does biodegradable mean?
Every time you do a food shop, you might check the labels to see if the packaging can be recycled. If the word ‘biodegradable’ pops up, you may be even more confident that you’re helping to reduce the amount of pollution that enters our environment. But biodegradable can be a misleading term, and it may be even be harmful for the planet.
Biodegradable essentially means that an item can be broken down into increasingly smaller pieces by bacteria, fungi or microbes to be reabsorbed by the surrounding environment, ideally without causing any pollution. Some things are naturally biodegradable, like food and plants, while other items can break down into harmful chemicals or gases.
The trouble is, everything we use or create can be called biodegradable because eventually everything will break down – from organic waste and wooden cutlery to pladtic packaging or steel machinery. It could just take a very, very long time. So, putting the word ‘biodegradable’ on food labels isn’t very helpful for anyone trying to make greener shopping choices.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #biodegradable #greenwashing

Remember when we could all meet up and clean up beaches together? That was fun. We miss finding all weird stuff like sofas, dinosaurs suits and exercise bikes. We miss dirty hands, big smiles and all of us working together. We miss swearing when we find dead animals entangled in abandoned fishing lines and plastic. We miss our laughs, craziness and great conversations. We miss seeing the joy when the kids find more dirty toys to keep. We miss seeing how dirty and muddy we get just so we can get "that" piece of plastic. We miss seeing all smiles telling us how many pieces of Styrofoam balls that have been picked up "just in that corner". We miss seeing faces finding a dirty t-shirt and saying "I'll take it home and wash it and it will be just like new". We miss you helping us trying to pack everything in the trailer. We miss the conversations we have at lunch after our clean ups. We miss our friends. We miss YOU!
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup #beachescouncil #loveManly #friends

Imagine how much plastic we could save!
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~ Jane Goodall
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup #loveManly #friends #northernbeaches

Great idea!
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #idea

It is now illegal to release balloons in Victoria
Read all about severe penalties here https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/balloons
Huge congrats to Karen at No Balloon Release Australia who tirelessly campaigned for years on this, a massive win and great collaboration with Zoos Victoria.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #balloons #balloonsblow #beachcleanup

What is the difference between degradable, biodegradable and
compostable bags? And which bin do they go in?

DEGRADABLE
Degradable bags are made from plastic with other chemicals added (including heavy metals) that cause the plastic to break down and disintegrate over time when exposed to sunlight and heat. If degradable bags are released into our environment they become quite problematic as they break down into hundreds of tiny pieces of plastic. Animals can consume the smaller pieces of plastic more readily than they would if the bags were still whole. It is also much more difficult to remove hundreds of tiny pieces of plastic from the environment than it is to remove a single bag.
Which Bin? Degradable bags should only be used for and placed into your general waste bin.

BIODEGRADABLE
Like degradable bags, biodegradable are often still plastic bags that have microorganisms added to break down the plastic.
Which bin? Biodegradable bags should only be used for and placed into your general waste bin

​COMPOSTABLE
Compostable bags are made of natural plant starch, and do not produce any toxic material. Compostable bags break down readily in a composting system through microbial activity to form compost. In order to be classified as compostable they must meet the Australian Standard for compostability AS4736 and will have this symbol.
Which bin? Compostable bags can be used to line your kitchen caddy for collection of food scraps and then placed into the green lidded food and garden organics (FOGO) bin. Don’t waste them in your general waste bin as they will not compost well in a landfill environment.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic #plasticbag

A reminder that it is safe to bring your own cup! Check out this six step method for safe, contactless coffee - enabling reusable coffee cups to return to the take out menu! ⁠
⁠
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #keepcup #takeaway #coffee #byocup

No matter where you walk, you’ve probably seen them: little stinky discarded dog poo bags. Sometimes they’re along sidewalks. They’re also in the woods or even tied from tree branches like Christmas ornaments. As no one really wants Mother Nature decorated with these smelly pouches of poo, why do people discard their pet droppings? After all, they went to the trouble of bagging it, why not actually haul it away?
Maybe the offender dropped off the bag with every intention of picking it up on their way back from the walk. But then they went a different way home. Or got distracted and totally forgot.
Maybe the dog owner had no plans on carrying a reeking sack with them on their lovely stroll at all. They figured bagging it was enough of an effort. Someone else can pick it up.
Or maybe bagging and tossing—particularly on a trail—is someone’s mistaken belief that biodegradable bags will quickly break down. Biodegradable bags can be made out of corn or petroleum and contain microorganisms to help break down the bag. But “biodegradable” is merely a marketing term with no standard or legal definition.
A study published in 2019 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found that several bags that were marketed as "biodegradable" survived in the open air, buried in soil, and submerged in seawater for three years or more. Compostable bags, on the other hand, are made of plant starch. They contain no plastics and are generally more expensive. In the study, the compostable bag dissolved in seawater in three months.
Dogs are eating diets rich in protein and added nutrients that throw the ecosystem out of whack when their poop hits the ground - their poo must be picked up.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #dog #plastic

​Did you know that H&M recycles old clothes. The clothes don't even have to be bought at H&M and when you take them to their shop, you also get a 15% discount voucher to use within the shop. The closest H&M is at Warringah Mall.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #recycling #recycle #clothes #clothing