Families, schools and community groups are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves and take part in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 1 March 2026.
Now in its 36th year, Clean Up Australia remains the nation’s largest community-based environmental event. Since its inception in 1990 by Ian Kiernan, more than 23 million volunteers have taken part. In 2025 alone, more than 800,000 people joined 8,000 events across the country.
Chair Pip Kiernan says while recycling habits and waste challenges continue to evolve, one thing hasn’t changed — too much litter is still ending up in our streets, parks, bushland and waterways.
Plastics remain the biggest problem
According to the FY25 Clean Up Australia Litter Report, plastics made up a staggering 80.8% of all counted litter collected between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Cigarette butts — which also contain plastic — are now the single most littered item, accounting for 23.6% of all rubbish recorded. Meanwhile, discarded vapes are on the rise, found at 33.9% of surveyed sites, with reports increasing by 23.5% over the past three years.
For parents, it’s a sobering reminder of the impact everyday waste can have on the places our kids play — from local parks and creeks to beaches and school grounds.
Volunteers putting rubbish in bin bags at Clean Up Australia Day. Credit: Clean Up Australia
A simple way to make a big difference
Clean Up Australia Day is designed to be accessible and family-friendly. Whether you join an organised event at your local beach, help tidy up a neighbourhood park, or register your own clean-up site, every bag of rubbish collected makes a visible difference.
Schools can get involved on Friday 27 February for Schools Clean Up Day, while workplaces can take part in Business Clean Up Day on Tuesday 24 February.
If you can’t attend in person, donations are also welcome, with funds going directly towards providing free Clean Up kits and supporting volunteers nationwide.
Ready to get involved? Register or find a local event at Clean Up Australia and be part of a movement helping protect the Australia our children will inherit.
Clean Up Australia Day takes place on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
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