2. Soft plastic remnants
Our local litter heroes
We want zero litter in Georges River! Help stop litter and pollution washing into the Georges River when it rains. This is a Georges Riverkeeper project, funded by a grant from the Australian Government and supported by St Mary's Catholic School in Georges Hall and City of Canterbury Bankstown.
Litter Lessons
To reduce the amount of litter in the Georges River, St Mary's Catholic School in Georges Hall was invited to receive free environmental education by professional educators, focusing on litter reduction and stormwater, aligned to the NSW curriculum.
Students learned about the litter problem, looked at how drains carry pollution from our streets and back yards straight to the river, and then created colourful artworks to inspire a zero litter life.
Take a look
Kids' Artwork Gallery
The Kids' campaign
Look and listen to what the kids at St Mary's Catholic School in Georges Hall have to say! We are very lucky to have such confident young champions protecting the river.
Their thoughtful messages and creative art explain how litter in stormwater pollutes our waterways and is dangerous to wildlife and humans. And, they show you how to stop litter entering in Georges River.
You can see all student artworks in the gallery. Some artworks have been used as inspiration for professional artist Born Ready’s drain art which is painted on footpaths along local streets.
Watch the videoDrain Artwork
Most people don’t give drains a second look, they are designed to be ignored. But you won’t be able to miss the large colourful art we’re painting near stormwater drains across the Georges River catchment!
Take a minute to enjoy the drain art, inspired by local students and painted by Born Ready Art at 18 locations across the Georges River catchment. Think about how stormwater drains take rain straight to the river, along with all the pollution on our streets.
Scan the QR code with your phone to snap a photo with our mascot, Zero the turtle, and learn more what you can do to reduce litter in Georges River and keep your neighbourhood clean.
Take a look
Most common items littered
1. Hard plastic fragments
3. Foam insulation and packing
4. Plastic lids and tops
5. Plastic food packaging
6. Plastic utensils (straws, cutlery, cups)
7. Fishing line
8. Foam cups, food packs and trays
9. Cigarette butts
10. Plastic wrap (non-food)
*Source: Conservation Volunteers Australia, #SeaToSource audit September 2020 to June 2021. CVA hosted 23 #SeaToSource clean ups in the Georges River catchment in which 190 volunteers removed 690 kg of litter over a total of 760 hours.
Learn more about this gross problem!GPTs you might see
Gross Pollutant Traps in this area typically collect leaf litter, silt and vegetation debris, and larger items of floatable rubbish.
But they do not collect small plastic fragments, small pieces of polystyrene, cigarette butts, fishing line, chemicals, oils, or pathogens from organic materials like dog waste.
So, to keep your local area clean, be a litter quitter and don’t let these items enter drains.
Learn more about how rain drains to waterways and trapping gross pollution.
Learn how to be a litter quitter
See what you can do to reduce litter in the Georges River
Learn moreBe like ZERO. Make your pledge
Get a photo with Zero and pledge to create zero litter. Snap and share it.
Make a pledgeTell your friends
Lesson plans for schools
Free, online lessons developed by professional environmental educators to help your school community reduce litter in your local area.
Get resourcesGet a selfie with Zero
Make your pledge to reaching Zero Litter in Georges River with Zero the turtle.
- Use your phone to scan the QR code
- Launch the App
- Take a selfie with Zero
- Share it with your friends #ZeroLitterInGeorgesRiver
Local area snapshots
Latest News
Georges Riverkeeper is thrilled to announce that the Zero Litter in Georges River project has been honoured as the winner in the Litter Prevention / Clean Waterways category at the prestigious Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) 2023 Sustainable Cities Awards.
Sponsored by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), this award recognises Georges Riverkeeper’s commitment to preserving the health of the Georges River and is a testament to its catchment-wide approach.
Posted: 16 October, 2023
The Zero Litter in Georges River project has reached a significant milestone, concluding the school education and community engagement phase with resounding success. This collaborative initiative, bringing together six primary schools from Como, Minto, Wattle Grove, Bossley Park, Connells Point, and Georges Hall, has made a lasting impact on the local community. Here’s a brief overview of the accomplishments, inspiration, and commitment that have shaped this unique project.
Posted: 09 October, 2023
Georges Riverkeeper is proud to announce its selection as a Finalist in the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) 2023 Sustainable Cities Awards.
Georges Riverkeeper has been recognised in the Litter Prevention / Clean Waterways category, sponsored by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for the Zero Litter in Georges River project.
Posted: 18 September, 2023
Georges Riverkeeper in collaboration with students from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Georges Hall and artist Corey Nichols, aka Born Ready Artist, has unveiled striking footpath artworks at locations in Garrison Point, Lake Gillawarna, and outside St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Georges Hall. These thought-provoking creations aim to raise awareness about plastic pollution in our rivers and creeks while encouraging responsible litter disposal practices.
Posted: 10 August, 2023
As part of the Zero Litter in Georges River project to reduce stormwater pollution in the Georges River, several of Georges Riverkeeper’s member councils undertook priority projects rectifying Gross Pollutant Traps (GPTs) in the catchment. Liverpool City Council opted to undertake an audit of existing GPTs to assess the condition and performance of the GPTs in the area.
Posted: 26 June, 2023
Georges Riverkeeper has released a Practical Guide for Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT) Planning, Design & Procurement to assist member Councils with planning, design, specification, and operation of GPTs.
Posted: 26 June, 2023
