Published on Monday, 18 May 2026 at 8:35:00 AM
A big thank you to the incredible volunteers who joined our second Caves Road clean-up in Dunsborough on Wednesday 22 April 2026. 
Seven months after our first clean‑up, our community once again showed up with plenty of enthusiasm and the results tell an interesting story.
What Did We Find?
The types of litter collected were strikingly similar to our first audit:
- Around half (51–52%) of all litter likely came from unsecured loads (larger lightweight packaging, construction and landscaping materials)
- 30% was unidentifiable (e.g small, mostly plastic pieces)
- 18–19% was likely from passing vehicles ( e.g. beverage containers, take-away food items)
What Stood Out?
- Lightweight packaging consistently makes up 43% of all litter.
- Trailer load loss remains a likely major source.
- Plastic continues to dominate the waste stream.
- Total litter decreased slightly (approximately 4%) from our first clean up in October 2025, but not enough to show a significant change.
Why This Matters
- We now have valuable data that we didn’t have before. This helps to understand the patterns behind roadside litter and plan for the future.
- Over 5,000 pieces of litter have now been removed from our local environment.
- 25 amazing volunteers rolled up their sleeves to protect our natural areas and wildlife.
How We Can All Help
A few simple changes make a big difference:
- Secure loads when transporting waste, even small loads.
- Keep windows closed when eating in the car to prevent accidental litter escape.
- Make sure bin lids are fully closed so rubbish doesn’t become wind‑blown.
Littering behaviour is often not intentional. It’s usually caused by small moments of carelessness that add up.
Kindly supported by the Keep Australia Beautiful WA Community Litter Grants Program.
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