More than 112,000 kilograms of litter removed from Georges River waterways and foreshores, highlighting the cost of litter

Every year, thousands of pieces of litter escape into the Georges River catchment, where they threaten wildlife and cost the community millions of dollars to remove. Georges Riverkeeper removed 112,600 kilograms of litter from waterways and foreshores across the catchment during the 2025/26 financial year. 

The clean-up effort with NSW Corrective Services teams involved 3,106 site visits, collecting 5,784 bags of general litter weighing 86,760 kilograms as well as 23,644 kilograms of bulky waste including shopping trolleys, tyres, furniture and metal sheeting, and safely collecting 270 discarded syringes. In addition, Georges Riverkeeper and community volunteers collected just under 2,000 kilograms of litter.

While litter is often viewed as an environmental issue, it also places a significant financial burden on the community. Georges Riverkeeper's member councils collectively spend an estimated $20 million each year managing litter across public spaces and stormwater systems, while Georges Riverkeeper invests around $72,000 annually removing rubbish from waterways. These efforts are supported by Corrective Services NSW crews, contributing in FY2025/26 alone over 14,000 hours of labour, as well as countless hours donated by community volunteers.

Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager Nell Graham said the annual figures demonstrate both the scale of the problem and the importance of preventing litter before it reaches local waterways. "Every bottle, takeaway container or plastic wrapper that misses the bin costs the community twice. First, it pollutes our waterways and threatens wildlife. Then it takes dedicated crews, specialist equipment and public funds to remove it from our waterways. 

"Our crews remove everything from drink bottles and food packaging to shopping trolleys, tyres and furniture. That's an enormous effort, but much of it is preventable. 

"Keeping our parks, streets and waterways clean is something Georges Riverkeeper and our member councils are committed to doing, but preventing litter starts with all of us. 

“Putting rubbish in the bin, securing loads on trailers and utes, and picking up litter before rain washes it into stormwater drains are simple actions that protect our waterways and reduce the need for costly clean-up." 

The figures also reveal where litter continues to accumulate across the catchment. The Liverpool Local Government Area recorded the highest volume of litter removed, with 46,477 kilograms, while the Cabramatta Creek subcatchment remained the Georges River catchment's largest litter hotspot, accounting for almost 34 per cent of all litter collected by subcatchment.  

The results reflect the combined efforts of Georges Riverkeeper, its member councils, Corrective Services NSW, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and dedicated community volunteers working together to protect the Georges River catchment.