Help keep Centennial Parklands beautiful

This week is Keep Australia Beautiful Week across the nation, and we call on all of our park visitors to help us keep Centennial Parklands as beautiful as it can be.

The mission of the Keep Australia Beautiful National Association is: To lead, challenge and inspire all Australians to strive for a sustainable and litter free environment. And as visitation to our Parklands grows every year, we look to our visitors to take little steps to make our parks both sustainable and litter-free as well.

Last year our estimates are that 1,036 tonnes of litter was generated by park visitors and through the maintenance of the Parklands. Of this:

• 8% was green waste
• 14% was recycled waste
• 78% was non-recycled waste

This ratio is something that we drastically want to improve, but we need your help!

In 2011 we installed 360 new bins across the Parklands, with funding assistance from the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Packaging Stewardship Forum.

Our new bins have large, clear signage for waste separation

Your little actions make a big difference

It is estimated that, with your help, we will divert up to 30 tonnes of aluminium cans, and glass and PET bottles, annually from the Parklands non-recycled waste system. Little steps can make big differences.

How you can help

Centennial Parklands is one of Sydney’s most popular picnic locations

When you visit the Parklands, please ensure to dispose of any waste in the correct bins. If you are planning a picnic in the Parklands, grab a Parklands map which has the locations of all of our waste stations.

Better still, aim to take your waste away with you or bring reusable bags and packaging to cut down on your waste.

If there is one thing you can avoid doing…

While we empty our bins twice weekly at times which prepare for periods of peak visitation, some bins in highly popular areas of the Parklands may fill up quicker than others. When this occurs, some park visitors believe that they should leave the waste stacked up next to the bin. Unfortunately this causes many issues.

Waste piled next to bins is often blown around by the wind and can be spread across the park and enter our waterways.

Waste left like this also encourages scavenging by various birds and animals, causing numerous issues (e.g. attracting rodents, choking hazards for birds).

This waste is also a financial burden for the Parklands – and as we are a self-funded public parklands, we absolutely rely on your support to dispose of waste properly!

Concerned by waste?

If you are visiting Centennial Parklands and are concerned by a waste issue, please contact the Parklands Office on (02) 9339 6699 (or out of office hours: 0412 718 611).

Please enjoy the Parklands – but please help keep the Parklands beautiful.

Thank you for your support.

Lily Pond in Centennial Park is one of the most popular picnic areas

Please enjoy our free gas barbecues – but consider taking your waste with you when you leave.