Let's strain the drains!

Published on 22 November 2019

To protect our waterways, Maribyrnong City Council along with five other Victorian Councils, will be participating in the ‘Let’s Strain the Drains’ project supported by the Victorian State Government.

The project will see litter traps installed in stormwater drains, including 20 across Maribyrnong, which are monitored every six weeks to collect data on the quantity and types of litter accumulated. This data will then be compared to that of neighbouring Council’s involved, enabling the source of the litter to be identified and actions taken to prevent these types of litter from entering our waterways.

Litter builds up on our streets, blocks our gutters and drains and eventually finds its way into Port Phillip Bay. Litter and debris pollutes our natural environment and causes serious harm to marine creatures and wildlife.

 Fast facts

• Some of the most common types of litter which enter our waterways are cigarette butts, plastic items, food packaging, and beverage containers.
• Up to 40,000 pieces of plastic are estimated to float in every square kilometre of ocean.
• 800 species worldwide including 77 Australian species are impacted by marine debris.
• Over 75% of what is removed from our beaches is made of plastic

(Source: Tangaroa Blue)

The Let's Strain the Drains project is funded by the Victorian State Government and delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation, Cleanwater Group and Sustainability Victoria with support from the Cities of Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Moreland, Kingston, Maribyrnong and Greater Dandenong.

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