CSIRO researchers have found that plastic pollution along Australian coastlines has decreased by more than a third (39 per cent) over the past ten years by comparing data from surveys conducted up to a decade ago.  

This builds on previous research, which showed a 29 percent reduction in plastic waste on Australia’s beaches, with a 16 percent increase in areas where no plastic debris was found at all. The research was conducted across inland, riverine and coastal habitats in six metropolitan regions including Hobart, Newcastle, Perth, Port Augusta, Alice Springs and the Sunshine Coast.  

With an estimated 53 million metric tons of plastic waste projected to enter aquatic ecosystems by 2030, Dr. Denise Hardesty, senior research scientist at CSIRO and co-author of the study, said it was encouraging to see a significant reduction in plastic pollution on Australian beaches and coasts. 

“Three-quarters of the rubbish we find on our beaches is plastic, and flexible plastics, such as food packaging, are the most harmful to wildlife,” she added.  

A total of 8,383 debris items were recorded across the 1,907 surveys that were carried out within a 100-kilometre radius of each surveyed city. Polystyrene (24 percent) and cigarette butts (20 percent) were the most commonly found items followed by food wrappers, bottle lids and caps. Plastic fragments and microplastics were also frequently recorded. 

The survey is part of CSIRO’s broader research initiative to end plastic waste, with the goal of achieving an 80 percent reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2030. 

Research like this helps relevant authorities identify debris hotspots, understand how land use influences debris in the environment and track how waste ends up on our coastlines. It provides critical data to develop waste management strategies and measure the effectiveness of plastic waste policies, practices and educational campaigns. 

In our previous article, we share some simple steps you can take to help reduce pollution and make a positive impact on our environment.