Grab a bucket and join beach microplastic clean-up this weekend.
Published on 23 April 2025
Noosa Council is inviting the community to join Saturday’s beach clean-up event to remove any plastic and other debris washed ashore after ex-tropical cyclone Alfred and recent heavy seas.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said collaborative beach clean-ups after flood or storm events involving the community was one of the recommendations from a review into the response to the 2022 floods where polystyrene debris polluted regional beaches.
“Microplastics often wash up on our beaches after weather like we’ve experienced recently, and they’re incredibly harmful to our marine life,” Cr Wilkie said.
“Plastic rubbish kills wildlife like turtles and seabirds in numerous ways, including choking, drowning or poisoning them. Plastic can look like food, but once eaten it permanently fills their stomachs so they can no longer eat and ultimately starve to death.
“Cr Amelia Lorentson has been on the front foot on this issue and has already helped raise awareness of this event.
“We’re inviting the community to assist on Saturday, 26 April, to help remove as much of this plastic from our shorelines as we can to restore our beaches to their best.”
The beach clean-up event will be underway from 10am to 12.30pm on Saturday 26 April at:
- Beach Access 16 - Noosa Woods.
- Beach Access 33 – Ed Webb Park, Sunshine Beach.
- Beach Access 47 – Tristania Dr, Marcus Beach.
- Beach Access 50 – Peregian Esplanade, near Glen Eden, Peregian Beach.
- Beach Access 66 – Victory Park, Lorikeet Dr, Peregian Beach.
Anyone planning to attend is asked to bring a bucket and a kitchen strainer, if they have one, and to wear a hat and shoes and bring drinking water. Gloves will be provided.
Please register to attend the event, via EventBrite:
Further information is also available on Council’s website.
Coastal clean-up every day
Council has provided microplastic collection buckets at most Noosa beach access points so anyone visiting the beach can contribute to the clean-up before and after the 26 April event.
“Microplastics are all too common on our beaches, so along with attending clean-up events like the one we’re hosting on 26 April, we’re encouraging locals and visitors to collect and dispose of any microplastic and other litter they see whenever they visit the beach,” Council’s Environmental Services Manager Ben Derrick said.
“Lots of little clean-up efforts will help to keep our beaches plastic free.”
Microplastic collection buckets are available at most beach access points for the community to use to help clean up the beach. Buckets should be emptied into the bin and returned to the beach access point after the clean-up.
Anyone picking up microplastics and other litter at the beach is asked to:
- Help protect the dunes by doing coastal clean-ups during low tide.
- Stay off the tops of dunes and sand cliffs to reduce erosion and protect any turtle nests that may be in them.
- Wear closed shoes, work gloves, hat and sunscreen, and clean your hands afterwards.
- Leave organic matter such vegetation, pumice stone and animals.
Sick or dead turtles should be reported to Coolum and North Shore Coast Care ASAP on 0478 435 377 or the Queensland Government’s Marine Animal Stranding Hotline - 1300 ANIMAL (1300 130 372). Report sick or dead marine wildlife to QLD Marine Animal Stranding Hotline - 1300 ANIMAL (1300 130 372).
Natural materials such as pumice, sea grass and seaweed, natural vegetation, and small amounts of dead fish and birds are important habitat and food, and lodgement points for dune rebuilding. They will generally be left on the beach and dunes unless they are dangerous
Mayor Frank Wilkie discusses the upcoming beach clean-up: