Waterways: clean-up

Time Allocation: 40 minutes*

Activity Level: Complex

Introduction

Junior Landcarers on their own or working as a team, can clean-up waterway to make a visible difference and help improve ecosystems. From picking up rubbish to collecting and analysing data, they can identify the ways people can help reduce waste and protect water supplies.

Adequate preparation of materials beforehand is important and safety instructions are essential. Please refer to the educator notes for a comprehensive list of safety and planning considerations, as well as materials to gather before commencing your waterways clean-up and data collection.

*Time allocation will be dependent on site selection and travel time.

Checklist

  • Map of the area, can be a rudimentary sketch outlining boundaries
  • First aid kit, sunscreen, protective footwear, allergy plans
  • Weather appropriate attire and accessories: hat, sunglasses, insect repellent or raincoat
  • Thick gloves for every participant
  • Tongs or claw pick up tool per group
  • 1 sharps container (can be purchased from pharmacies and medical supply companies)
  • Thick garbage bags, robust tubs or woven bags also work well for collecting rubbish that is in or near the water since the water will drain out of them*
  • Scales for weighing rubbish collected (for contribution to data collected for the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI)*
  • Labels for rubbish collected, e.g. rubber, metal, plastic*
  • The Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) App can be used to log the data collected during your clean-up directly into the database if you have access to Android or Apple platforms*
  • Tangaroa Blue Clean-up Data Collection Sheet. This is designed for a beach clean-up but can be used for other waterways too. It is a comprehensive list of rubbish items you may find whether cleaning the beach or inland waterways.
  • Large tarpaulins (optional)
  • Printable activity sheet (optional)
  • Clipboard (optional)
  • Pencils (optional)

    • Instructions

    Step 1

    Living things rely on water for their survival. In parts of the country, the health of our waterways is threatened due to human impacts such as irrigation practices, climate change and pollution.

    This learning activity has two major benefits, cleaning land adjacent to our precious waterways, and collecting authentic valuable data on the health of our beaches and inland waterways.

    Predict what items of waste the children believe they will be collecting during their clean-up.

    Step 2

    Examine the map of the clean-up area ensuring safety aspects have been accounted for. Refer to the Educator Notes for this learning activity for a comprehensive list of safety and planning considerations.

    Outline safety aspects to the children and provide a safety briefing.

    • Instruct how to use the tongs or claw pick properly and how to place the rubbish in their bags safely
    • Pair the children or place them in small groups to clean-up
    • Ensure an adult is supervising at all times and in close proximity.

    Encourage the participants to enjoy their natural surroundings as they clean up. After all, keeping beaches and waterways clean helps protect wildlife, improve their habit and restore the beauty of the waterways.

    Step 3

    Once the children have finished collecting rubbish for the allocated time frame, gather the children together with their bags of rubbish.

    Carefully, tip the bags of rubbish onto large tarps for sorting and analysis.

    Use these subheadings to sort the rubbish on the tarps:

    • Plastic
    • Polystyrene
    • Glass and ceramic
    • Other materials
    • Cloth
    • Metal
    • Paper & cardboard
    • Rubber
    • Wood
    • Additional items.

    Sorting the rubbish will also assist with correct disposal of the waste. 

    Observe the rubbish items collected, is this what the children predicted to find?

    Step 4

    It is now time to tally and record the rubbish collected. There are two data collection options:

    Paper data collection

    Use the Tangaroa Blue Clean-up Data Collection Sheet to tally and note the rubbish items collected.

    OR

    Digital data collection

    This data can also be directly entered via the AMDI app on both Android and Apple platforms.

    Once data is collected, waste items need to be grouped for correct disposal, e.g. organics, recyclables, repurposing etc.

    It is now time to correctly dispose of the waste.

    Make sure recyclables are correctly processed. Contact your local council for further information.

    Use the activity sheet to help analyse what you have collected and discuss together what actions you might take next.

    Extension Activity

    Explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ connections with, and valuing of, water and water resource management.

    Research natural water sources in Australia that have been listed as either World Heritage sites or national parks for their aesthetic, environmental or cultural value.

    Contact your local Coastcare Facilitator to see how you can become involved. Community volunteer groups help to maintain our marine and coastal environment through activities such as revegetating coastal areas, building boardwalks, fencing, building tracks, monitoring native shorebirds and other animals, presenting education and awareness raising community meetings, planting and weeding, landscaping coastal areas and protecting cultural sites.