As stated by CSIRO between 2022 and 2024, researchers conducted 1,907 surveys across various habitats—including inland, riverine, and coastal areas—within a 100km radius of cities such as Hobart, Newcastle, Perth, Port Augusta, Sunshine Coast, and Alice Springs. The average debris density was found to be 0.15 items per square metre, with cigarette butts and polystyrene fragments being the most commonly encountered debris.
The study identified higher debris concentrations in residential, commercial, and roadway areas, while agricultural, industrial, and natural parklands exhibited lower levels of pollution. Notably, regions with intensive land use and socio-economically disadvantaged areas tended to have higher debris densities.
According to the firm research has shown container deposit legislation, which enables people to take eligible beverage containers to a collection point for a refund, has reduced the number of beverage containers in the coastal environment by 40%.
