2 April 2001 |
Packaging Big Litter Problem
The type of litter
in Christchurch has changed over the past 10 years.
The Keep Christchurch
Beautiful campaign has carried out the litter study every six months for the
last 10 years, counting and detailing each piece of litter at 111 confidential
sites around Christchurch.
Studies of the
litter taken 10 years ago and up to recent times showed that match sticks and
tear tabs from drink cans were always present but today they have been replaced
with straws and fast-food packaging. The latest count in January showed that
paper-card and plastic were the main sources of litter counted.
The KCB co-ordinator,
Ingrid Le Fevre, says there are eight basic sources of littering. These are
pedestrians, motorists, uncovered trucks and trailers, household rubbish, commercial
and industrial operations, careless loading and delivery, construction and demolition
sites, and marine sources.
How long does litter
last? Miss
Le Fevre says that aluminum cans and caps can last 500 years and glass bottles
1000 years and plastic bottles indefinitely. This is why it is important to
recycle those items, she says.
She says the public
must be educated about the length of life of much of the citys litter,
as it is clear that littering is not just a problem of today that can easily
be cleared away. Making any inroads in stamping out litter can only be
done when people realise the mess they are leaving for future generations,
she says.Littering
is an offence and a $100 fine can be enforced.
Please help us to Keep Christchurch Beautiful - do the right thing and stop littering the city, Miss Le Fevre says.
Further information:
Ingrid Le Fevre: 03 941 8832.
Media contact:
Carole
Evans, chairwoman of KCB: 03 388.6784, 025 2327633