THE days of hauling discarded boots and trolleys out of creeks are gone but people are being urged to learn something from the rubbish they pick up this Clean Up Australia Day.
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Wodonga councillor Michael Fraser said picking up litter had become part of many people’s lives, but they still needed to be aware of what they left behind.
“There is a lot of fast-food litter around and people need to be conscious of it and do the right thing,” he said.
“People need to use Clean Up Australia Day to take ownership over parks.
“There’s nowhere near the heavy work there used to be but now there’s the problem of the small stuff from our over-packaged society.”
Cr Fraser said while there was less heavy work to do, the day was still just as important.
“You regularly do maintenance like mow your grass but once a year you need a spring clean — that’s what Clean Up Australia Day is all about,” he said.
“It’s a job that should be done all year round. We don’t leave rubbish in our back yard and parks are really just an extension of that.”
About 100 people took part in Clean Up Australia Day in Wodonga last year and Cr Fraser hoped for more this year.
Council litter operator Broady Mills, who has done four clean-ups, said it was vital to keep raising awareness.
“It’s a lot better than what it was 20 years ago and we want it to be better in another 20 years,” he said.
People can sign on for Sunday’s clean-up at cleanupaustraliaday.org.au or by attending Wodonga’s Les Stone Park at 7.30am.
Volunteers will pick up litter there until 10am before moving to Willow Park at 10.30am.
Gloves, bags, sunscreen and water will be available on the day.