Western Australia's beaches most polluted in Australia

WESTERN Australia's beaches are the most polluted in the nation with an average of nearly 1100 items of rubbish per site, Clean Up Australia's 2010 Rubbish Report has found.
Founder and chairman Ian Kiernan says West Australians have one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, attracting tourists from around Australia and the world.

"It is unacceptable that your beaches and coastal areas are considered to be giant ashtrays and rubbish bins," he said.

The large amount of waste on WA's coastline found its way into the Indian Ocean to harm marine life, he said.

Mr Kiernan said WA generated over five million tonnes of waste every year and sent 77% of it to landfills, which was higher than any other state, making WA "a serious rubbish offender".

While WA recorded the lowest amount of plastic in Australia, an above average amount of metal and glass was removed by volunteers in the state last year, the rubbish report said.
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Check here for photos of the polution on Cottesloe beach