Clean Up Australia Litter Report finds plastic remains most common

Plastics continue to be the number one litter item found in Australia’s streets, parks, bushlands and waterways, according to the Clean Up Australia Litter Report FY25.

Clean Up Australia is a national charity dedicated to collecting waste and eliminating litter in the environment, educating communities along the way.

The organisation’s latest litter report found plastic accounted for 80.8 per cent of all counted litter, with cigarette butts – also made from plastic – being the most littered individual item.

“It is troubling to see that cigarette butts now represent nearly a quarter of all litter collected, with an estimated 8.9 billion butts littered in Australia every year,” said Clean Up Australia Chair, Pip Kiernan.

“Many in our community don’t know that the butts are actually made of plastic, and when littered, they shed microfibres, leach toxic waste, and take up to 30 years to decompose.”

According to the report, soft plastics remain a significant problem, representing 30.5 per cent of all litter categories, while packaging also continues to pose a persistent challenge to cleanup efforts, representing 59.5 per cent of all reported litter during the year.

“We cannot simply recycle our way out of this challenge,” Kiernan said.

“We need packaging reforms that reduce production of single-use plastics and increase reliance on reusable alternatives.

“Clean Up Australia strongly supports the implementation of a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging, including soft plastics, which would ensure producers and manufacturers are responsible for the packaging they place on the market.”

Clean Up Australia’s Litter Report has been published annually since 1991, revealing critical data and trends related to the spread of litter in the country via volunteer documentation.

Although there has been a decline from FY24, beverage containers, including cans, bottles and cartons, remain significant contributors to litter at 14.6 per cent combined. A further decline is expected over the coming years in the wake of Container Deposit Schemes now being operational across all states and territories.

Takeaway coffee cups have increased as a proportion of total litter, rising from 2.8 per cent in FY24 to 4.3 per cent in FY25.

Vapes also continue to rise, now found at 33.9 per cent of surveyed sites.

According to the Clean Up Australia Litter Report FY25, the number of sites reporting vapes has increased by 23.5 per cent since 2022, highlighting the pressing need for a nationwide safe disposal system.

Vapes contain batteries and toxic materials that don’t belong in general waste or recycling bins.

“While we’ve seen positive progress with soft plastics collection and recycling, the fundamental issue remains: Australia’s plastic consumption is increasing,” Kiernan said.

“In 2000, we consumed 1.79 million tonnes of plastic. By 2024, this had risen to 3.97 million tonnes – a 122 per cent increase.

“Systemic change through policy and industry reform is essential, and grassroots community action continues to be paramount. One of the best ways to address our nation’s litter challenges is to get your gloves on and get involved.”

Clean Up Australia Day is Australia’s largest community-based environmental event, held annually on the first Sunday in March. It encourages Australians to get out and clean up their local environment. The 2026 event will be on 1 March.