Beach litter worsens

LITTER on City of Joondalup and Stirling beaches has increased 16 per cent, with the worst cases in the City of Joondalup, according to a survey by three local environmental groups last month.

Beaumaris, Burns Beach, Hillarys and Mullaloo were “the worst” for litter in the annual survey of 100m of nine Marmion Marine Park beaches, run for the past 25 years.

“In the early surveys, the litter was mainly from commercial fishing activities, but now almost all is left by irresponsible beachgoers,” Friends of Marmion Marine Park member and survey convener Don Poynton said.

“It was particularly disturbing to see so much plastic, as thousands of marine mammals and birds die each year after ingesting or becoming entangled in it.”

Dome Café Mullaloo franchisee Arpi Simai said he started daily rubbish collections after several customers complained.

“Ninety per cent of the rubbish was left by teenagers, who disregard hygiene rules and don’t seem to care,” he said.
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