Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of Clean Up Australia Day and residents across southern Sydney worked hard to make their communities cleaner and safer.
Since its inception, volunteers have removed 288,650 tonnes of rubbish from 145,754 sites in Australia.
Sarah-Jo Lobwein, a Sutherland Shire resident and co-ordinator of the University of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, organised a land and sea clean-up at Silver Beach, Kurnell, from 10am.
She said snorkellers, divers and "landlubbers" were invited to attend the clean-up, and she hoped it would become an annual event.
Having a good turnout would mean a better result, she said.
Mrs Lobwein said she had always collected rubbish at the shire's beaches but the task was becoming bigger all the time.
She said there was much plastic debris along the coast and it was getting worse.
Email marine.usims@sydney.edu.au or see a list of other official Clean Up Australia Day sites at cleanupaustraliaday.org.au
■ First Grays Point Scouts and Cubs, South West Venturers, Lilli Pilli Kayak Club and Grays Point Community Church will clean up Swallow Rock from 9am to 2pm.
Details: 1800 CUA DAY.
*CLICK ON THE COMMENT LINK BELOW to tell us where you cleaned up. Or send your photos to christiner@fairfaxmedia.com.au
