Waste-wise tips for summer boaties

Don't go overboard with your waste this summer

Summer is here and, for many Aucklanders, that means a lot of living is done out on the water – enjoying the Hauraki Gulf and the harbours, islands, beaches, and bays around the Auckland region.

As we become increasingly aware of the impact of waste on our oceans and waterways, Auckland Council is appealing to summer boaties and leisure craft users to be waste-wise on the water.

Talking to Camden Howitt, Co-Founder and Coastlines Lead of Sustainable Coastlines, they have identified a list of top offenders found during their coastal clean-ups in the ocean, and on beaches and estuaries. Howitt encourages Aucklanders to especially take care in disposing of these items, which they have dubbed ‘The Filthy Five’.

“Over the years, we have found almost everything imaginable on our beaches. From dentures to messages in bottles, to a brass artillery shell, to loads of asbestos. That said, the most concerning and damaging items are also the most common: over 75 per cent of what we find are single-use plastic products.”

“It's up to all of us to protect this place we love. We encourage people to do their bit to put waste in its place, keep plastic out of our oceans, and make sure our beaches are litter-free, the way they should be,” says Howitt.

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