Hi, I’m Anthony, the Litter Project Officer for the Yarra Riverkeeper Association. 

Over the past year and a half, I’ve been dedicating my life to polystyrene and its impact on your environment  (Yes, it is as great as it sounds!) 

Polystyrene pollution 

Polystyrene is one of the most littered items ending up in our waterways. The Port Phillip Ecocentre’s Clean Bay Blueprint estimates that In total, 1,934,208,000 litter flows into Port Phillip Bay annually from the Yarra rivers’ surface waters. 15% of this number is polystyrene! 

The combination of being both a lightweight, petrochemical and brittle material, means that polystyrene is elusive & pervasive. The ecological impacts of polystyrene unfolds gradually over time, and is widespread and devastating for waterways and wildlife. 

Why investigate polystyrene pollution?

In response to the reports on polystyrene, we are continuing our investigation and documentation of the pervasiveness of the material, its sources and how we can reduce its threat on the environment. 

Our investigation and documentation of this impact to the River is in its second phase of research. Our first phase of research, which was awarded the Premier’s Sustainability Award (2020) and Premier’s Recognition Award (2020), highlighted the prevalence of polystyrene. We are now taking these findings further by investigating 5 key sources of polystyrene pollution.

Why polystyrene audits? 

Every 6 weeks we collect samples from multiple bandalong litter traps that sit in the Yarra River. 

Although we know polystyrene is a major threat to the health of the River, we need to make sure that we are continually assessing the extent of polystyrene in the environment and waterways. Polystyrene audits are a vital component of establishing a baseline for our research and providing evidence of pollution. 

Jumping over the lockdown hurdle 

For a short period this year we were able to meet up with our wonderful team of volunteers and conduct polystyrene audits together. Unfortunately, over the past 6 months, phase 2 of our polystyrene pollution project has been greatly impacted by the Covid-19 restrictions. We are in yet another lockdown (with uncertainty over when it will be lifted) and so our ability to host in person audit litter samples is no longer an option. So now, we are seeking alternate ways to complete our research and include the community in our project.  

With a deadline fast approaching we need your help! 

Our Plan:

We are preparing to send litter samples out to volunteers and the community. Move over puzzles and netflix, this activity will help to keep people busy during lockdown, educate people about litter and contribute to vital research that is linked to Melbourne’s iconic River!  

How will we do this? 

We will use the money raised by you to purchase equipment and to deliver the samples to our helpers. 

How you can help?

There are 3 ways to support our work and this project. 

1 - Support us financially and receive a cool pack of goodies

2 - Offer to help sort a sample on our behalf.

3 - Financially support us AND help to audit a sample 

Let’s work towards a future where polystyrene is no longer harming our waterways and all the many species that call our local environment home! 

We have the samples but we need to get them to our volunteer team! 

By making a donation to this 100% non-profit run project, you will be contributing to:

• The significant transport costs required to post, and receive back, over 100 samples to volunteers homes;

• The purchasing of essential tools to help the volunteers audit the samples so we can complete the investigation under covid restrictions.