Brisbane City Council is inviting all residents to participate in its ‘104 or more’ initiative to clean up litter and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Brisbane.
As Brisbane continues to grow, so does the challenge of keeping the city clean.
Brisbane City Council has ramped up its efforts to combat litter and keep the city’s natural environment pristine through its ‘104 or more’ initiative, described as a “simple yet impactful” strategy.
The initiative encourages residents to pick up at least two pieces of litter every week – which amounts to 104 or more pieces of litter per person, per year.
This community-driven program is designed to promote positive litter-reduction habits among residents, empowering individuals to take small but meaningful actions in their daily lives.
The council says initiatives such as ‘104 or more’ are increasing engagement of local residents in environmental efforts and there is strong momentum towards long-term change.
“This program demonstrates that even small actions, such as picking up a couple of pieces of litter each week, can lead to significant, citywide impact,” says the council.
By fostering a sense of shared responsibility, the initiative is not only keeping the city beautiful today but is instilling sustainable habits for future generations.
Steady growth
Since the program’s introduction in 2016, the council says the initiative has progressively grown, documenting an increase in numbers from residents, schools and local businesses.
In 2024 alone, nearly 10,000 volunteer hours were recorded, highlighting the growing community commitment to keeping Brisbane litter-free.
Rather than focusing solely on the volume of litter collected to measure the success of the program, the council emphasises the importance of the amount of time that volunteers dedicate to the cause.
It says this metric reflects not just immediate clean-up efforts but also the long-term behavioural change that the initiative aims to inspire.
With hundreds of residents participating, this initiative has the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of pieces of litter from polluting Brisbane’s streets, parks, waterways and bushland.
Changing the narrative
The council had many motives to start the initiative. Not only does litter harm wildlife, and pollute waterways, it also contributes to long-term environmental damage.
“The key to tackling this issue is not just removing litter but fostering a cultural shift in how people perceive waste and responsibility for the environment,” a spokesperson says.
Understanding how picking up litter can traditionally be viewed as a punishment or a chore, the council hopes this initiative will spark change in the community.
“We want to make litter collection a proactive and positive community-driven activity, rather than viewing it as an obligation.
“Residents are encouraged to take pride in their surroundings and feel a sense of accomplishment in making a tangible difference.”
To reinforce this message, the council regularly organises community clean-up events, creating opportunities for people to come together, connect and contribute to keeping their environment clean.
It strives to make the initiative as accessible as possible and support all residents in their efforts. For those participating, the council provides litter clean-up kits available for loan. These kits contain essential tools such as litter pickers, lightweight hand-held bins and safety equipment.
Kits are tailored to suit a range of group sizes, including individuals, families, schools, sporting clubs, kindergartens, businesses and community groups.
Residents who want to get involved can register for a litter clean-up kit on the council website.
The ‘104 or more’ initiative is one part of the council’s waste and sustainability strategy.
Other council waste-reduction programs include a ‘waste smart schools initiative’, ‘waste smart kindy’ and ‘community composting hubs’.
By integrating these initiatives with ‘104 or more’, the council aims to take a holistic approach to waste reduction, extending beyond litter collection to address environmental pollution.
For more information, visit: www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
