Today is the start of Clean Up Week, a nationwide event organised by Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) which encourages people to collect litter in their local area.

KNZB mobilises as many as 70,000 volunteers for Clean Up Week each year - cleaning up beaches, picking up litter, removing graffiti, planting trees and much more.

The local district did its part last year by collectively picking up 640kg of litter, according to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

The Upper Clutha has a strong clean up week track record, with schools, youth clubs, community associations, service clubs and more often getting involved.

One of the local clean up events taking place over the next week is the Hāwea Community Association’s clean-up on Sunday (September 21).

To take part, head to the Lake Hāwea Community Centre at 9am, with bags and gloves.

Another clean up will take place on Monday (September 22) at Bremner Bay. Organised by local water advocacy group WAI Wānaka, the event will run from 3.30pm-5pm.

Whether you are participating in one of these events or another one, QLDC is providing free litter picking kits.

Anyone who is a library member can collect one from the Wānaka Library.

As in previous years, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will also support the event by offering free disposal of litter collected during Clean Up Week at its Wānaka transfer station. 

To get involved, residents can find a full list of local Clean Up Week events at the KNZB website, or set up their own event. 

Find more information here.

Clean Up Week is sponsored by Waste Management and Enviro NZ.

PHOTO: KNZB