Aussie hands dirty for annual clean up

Clean Up Australia volunteers copped a blast from the past when a Coke can from Expo 88 was discovered in an exclusive inner-city suburb of Brisbane.

The bright red beacon of bicentennial fun, spotted by a Queensland state MP, was just the tip of an estimated 15,600-tonne iceberg of rubbish collected by volunteers in this year's campaign.

Almost 700,000 people took part in the 26th instalment of the environmental event across more than 7000 locations.

Clean Up Australia Day founder Ian Kiernan said the ever-increasing presence of plastics, drink vessels and single-use packaging proved waste management was an ongoing challenge.

"So long as we are prepared to get involved and get our hands dirty, Clean Up events such as those of this last week will continue to make a difference," he said.

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles used the day to announce more than $250,000 worth of grants to tackle litter and illegal dumping around charity bins.

The NSW Labor opposition has used the annual event to renew calls for a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

HOW TRASHY IS YOUR STATE?

ACT

Registered sites: 112

Estimated volunteer numbers: 8081

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 245.4

NSW

Registered sites: 2780

Estimated volunteer numbers: 246,809

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 6116

NT

Registered sites: 75

Estimated volunteer numbers: 7998

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 165

QLD

Registered sites: 1435

Estimated volunteer numbers: 89,961

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 3157

SA

Registered sites: 451

Estimated volunteer numbers: 41,174

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 992.2

TAS

Registered sites: 245

Estimated volunteer numbers: 14,498

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 558.8

VIC

Registered sites: 1425

Estimated volunteer numbers: 85,027

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 3135

WA

Registered sites: 585

Estimated volunteer numbers: 62,777

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 1287

TOTAL

Registered sites: 7117

Estimated volunteer numbers: 682,245

Predicted rubbish tonnage: 15,657.4