Litter (rubbish)

The presence of litter in estuarine, coastal and marine systems detracts from the visual amenity of an area and can harm humans (e.g. broken glass, used needles) or animals (which eat, become entangled in, or are suffocated by, the litter).

View a conceptual model of potential causes of a change to litter and the condition responses observed as a result of this change.

Potential indicators

There are a number of causes and symptoms related to this stressor. The following indicators are recommended for the stressor ‘Litter’:

Pressure indicators

Indicators of litter (rubbish) sources:

  • Boating activity within the estuary
  • Recreational usage index
  • 'Estuary' population size
  • Percentage of estuary adjoining urban area
  • Number of stormwater outflows per km estuary
Indicators of direct pressure:
  • None

Vulnerability indicators

  • None

Condition indicators

Physical-chemical condition indicators:

  • Presence (standing crop) of litter (rubblish)
  • Litter (rubblish) accumulation rate
Biological condition indicators:
  • None
Possible causes Possible symptoms

The actions/events/situations that might induce this stress.

The actions/events/situations that might arise from a change to the stressor:

  • Presence of litter
  • Entanglement of animals
  • Death of animals
  • Visual amenity decreased

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Other information on litter

International

Cigarette butt litter Information about cigarette butt litter worldwide.

Australia

New South Wales

New South Wales Litter Report 2004. This report is the first in a series of biennial reports to build a picture of long-term trends in litter composition and littering behaviours through comparable subsequent surveys. This information will provide an indicator of the effectiveness of government, industry and community initiatives to reduce litter.

Queensland

South East Queensland Litter Audit. Healthy Waterways was requested by a number of local governments to take a lead role in the development of an integrated South East Queensland approach to litter management. The litter audits can be downloaded from this site ( Healthy Waterways )

South Australia

Litter Statistics. KESAB environmental solutions implement the most comprehensive litter data collection and reporting system in Australia. Each quarter litter is counted at 151 sites across metropolitan and rural South Australia.

Tasmania

Litter statistics for Tasmania.

Waterways monitoring reports from Tasmania's rivers and streams provide current data on streamflow, water quality and riverine health for 2004. They can be downloaded from this page.

Victoria

Port Phillip Bay Beach Litter surveys are a key component of EPA Victoria's Beach Report program. This report summarises the results of litter surveys conducted during the 2003-04 Beach Report season.

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