Stormwater stencilling to remind residents that Dubbo drains are just for rain A bright yellow slogan strategically stencilled along the retail strips of Macquarie and Talbragar Streets will serve as a powerful reminder to people shopping and working in the CBD that litter washed into stormwater drains can easily end up in one of our greatest natural resources – the Macquarie River. In an initiative under Dubbo City Council’s Bin Your Butts and Bat for the Macquarie River campaign, the words “Drains to the Macquarie River” have been strategically stencilled above 50 stormwater drains within the CBD. Bin Your Butts and Bat for the Macquarie River is a multi-level campaign aimed at reducing discarded cigarette butts and other litter on the retail strips of Macquarie Street and Talbragar Street and is funded by a $48,420 grant as part of the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative for local litter prevention action. Dubbo City Council’s Stormwater Education Officer, Karen Hagan, said at present twice-daily clean ups are required in the CBD to correctly dispose of litter and that cigarette butts were the most littered and harmful item. “When it rains, cigarette butts lying in our streets and gutters are carried via the stormwater system into the Macquarie River, where the chemicals contained within the butts can negatively impact on the health of the river water and aquatic life.” “Cigarette butts take at least 12-months to break down in fresh water and chemicals such as lead and cadmium which are trapped in the filter can leach out in the water.” “Council has stencilled “Drains to the Macquarie River” in bright yellow above fifty stormwater drains in the CBD to remind the public of the consequences of littering behaviour and prompt them to put litter in the bin,” Ms Hagan said. Ms Hagan said Bin Your Butts and Bat for the Macquarie River will also involve the installation of over thirty new cigarette butt bins throughout the CBD to promote correct cigarette butt disposal. “The installation of the new butt bins will be complemented by broadcast and display advertising using the “Hey Tosser!” branding to reinforce the key message of the Bin Your Butts and Bat for the Macquarie River campaign which is that litter should go in the bin and not in the Macquarie River.” “Throughout the campaign we will be seeking feedback from retailers and undertaking surveys to check that the campaign message is being received and to monitor behavioural change,” Ms Hagan said. This project is a NSW Environmental Protection Agency Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy. MEDIA CONTACT: Dubbo City Council, Stormwater Education Officer, Karen Hagan on 6801 4000
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 01:43:01 +0000