Council staff are ‘out and about’ in known litter hotspots, seeking community feedback through litter surveys, providing education materials and seeking community pledges, where individuals make a promise to do their bit in helping reduce litter.

Council rangers have also ramped up their patrols, monitoring known litter hotspots and looking to catch those doing the wrong thing.

“Our staff have already had discussions with more than 300 locals and visitors about the impact of littering on our local environment, and have been collecting valuable information to assist in addressing the problem,” said director Matt Rogers.

“Litter poses a major threat to our local wildlife, including our marine environment and costs rate payer’s money to clean up... it also has a negative impact on local business and the tourism industry.”

The most commonly littered items across the port Macquarie-Hastings include cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, bottle tops, straws and takeaway packaging.

In a litter blitz clean up across the Port Macquarie CBD in November, more than six wheelie bins of these items were collected in just 2 days, and a significant number of the community recently participated in Clean up Australia Day.

“Littering can prevent us all from enjoying our public spaces such as parks, beaches, waterways and community spaces, and council thanks the community for helping us fight the problem in our local area,” added Mr Rogers.

Council’s litter blitz program is funded by the NSW EPA and supports the statewide ‘Don’t be a Tosser’ education campaign.

The program is supported by local project partners Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, Charles Sturt University, Salty Crew Café, Breakwall Holiday Park, Rydges Port Macquarie, Parkrun, Boomerang Bags and The Westport Club.