NATIONAL LITTER INDEX 2016 ‐ 2017

VICTORIA RESULTS KEEP AUSTRALIA BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL ASSOCIATION September 2017 E john@kesab.asn.au www.kab.org.au

Victoria

Key Messages and Insights

• Victoria has recorded 1.3% decrease in total litter counted, a 13% reduction by volume • Less litter observed across almost all site types, with the exception of industrial precincts, retail

precincts and car parks • While there was less takeaway food packaging litter found, it still represents the second largest

category of items in the litter stream, the largest proportion items in the litter stream being cigarette litter.

• Industrial precincts, retail precincts, shopping centres and car parks have the greatest litter loads in litter count terms, while three of the four (excluding shopping centres) also have the greatest loads in volumetric terms.

Survey Specifics

The national litter index surveys 151 sites across Victoria, with an area surveyed of 239,403 square

metres. While the primary focus of the monitor is across Melbourne suburban areas, a number of

regional/rural sites, are also surveyed. A further 15 rural highway/road sites are surveyed and

reported in the attached appendix.

Litter Counts

As shown in the following table, the 2016/17 monitor counted 1.3% less litter than items counted in

2015/16.

The following charts indicate that with the exception of the 09/10 monitor, this slight reduction is a

continuation of a long-term trend of reducing litter in Victoria. It also shows that while there are

year-on-year changes, the overall shape of the litter stream has not significantly changed. In Victoria,

cigarette litter represents approximately 53% of items counted, while takeaway food packaging is

15%.

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item CountSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY PLASTIC BAGS OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC GENERAL OTHER

Volumetric Impacts

The picture is positive in Victoria in volumetric terms, with a 13.2% decrease in litter volume

(excluding illegal dumping) when 2015/16 is compared to the latest 2016/17 monitor.

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - % Litter ItemsSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY PLASTIC BAGS OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC GENERAL OTHER

Littering Location

The location of the litter found in Victoria is contained in the following charts. These charts show less

litter was recorded across most site types, with the exceptions being car parks, industrial and retail

precincts. The most significant reductions were seen in beaches and recreational swimming locations,

residential streets, major roads/highways and shopping centres. As a consequence, these sites are

becoming a smaller component of Victoria’s overall litter stream with car parks growing in importance.

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Victoria - Litter Item Count by Site TypeSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BEACH CAR PARK HIGHWAY INDUSTRIAL RECREATIONAL PARK RESIDENTIAL RETAIL SHOPPING CENTRE

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - % Litter Items by Site TypeSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BEACH CAR PARK HIGHWAY INDUSTRIAL RECREATIONAL PARK RESIDENTIAL RETAIL SHOPPING CENTRE

Beaches/Recreational Swimming Locations

Around beaches and recreational swimming locations, the 2016/17 litter monitor showed reductions

across all categories, with the exception of other glass litter items. The most significant reductions

were seen in takeaway food packaging, other paper, other plastic and general other litter items.

Car Parks

Since 2009/10, litter counted at car parks in Victoria has been steadily declining but in the 2016/17

monitor recorded litter items increased by 27.5% at these sites. Most major categories observed

increases with cigarette litter, other paper and other plastic the major contributors.

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - BeachesSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - Car ParksSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

Major Roads/Highways

Major roads/highways were the sites with lowest litter reduction observed in the Victorian monitor

and while litter levels fell by a not insignificant 10.7%, the following chart indicate that the litter levels

on Victoria’s major roads/highways have remained relatively stable over the last 4-5 years. The vast

majority of the reduction was due to less cigarette litter and takeaway food packaging items.

Industrial Precincts

Industrial precincts experienced a rise of 17.2% in litter counted, the first increase since 2011/12. Most

major litter categories increased with cigarette litter and takeaway food packaging remaining the

dominant components of the litter stream.

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - HighwaysSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

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Victoria - Litter Item Count - IndustrialSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

Recreational Parks

The following chart demonstrates a decrease in litter observed in recreational parks in Victoria. The

2016/17 litter item count recorded a decline in most major categories with take away food containers

and general other litter items the primary contributors. The reduction in beverage container litter

since 2009/10 is particularly evident.

Residential Streets

The 2016/17 monitor saw litter levels in residential streets decreases a further 21% compared to the

2015/16 monitor. Less litter was counted in most categories with only other plastic experiencing very

small increases. Litter levels in residential streets were the lowest recorded in 2016/17.

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - Recreational ParksSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - ResidentialSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

Retail Precincts

After experiencing a significant reduction in litter counted in 2015/16, the 2016/17 litter monitor

resulted in an increase of 31.7% at retail sites, driven entirely by an increase in of 63.3% in cigarette

litter counted at these sites.

Shopping Centres

With an 11% decline in litter counted, the 2016/17 monitor recorded a continuation of the longer-

term trend of declining litter around shopping centres. Once again cigarette litter was the biggest

contributor.

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - RetailSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

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08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17

Victoria - Litter Item Count - Shopping CentresSource: National Litter Index - KABNA Analysis

BUTTS CDS TAKE AWAY OTHER GLASS OTHER PAPER OTHER PLASTIC PLASTIC BAGS GENERAL OTHER

Normalisation for Area Surveyed

The data below has been normalised to the number of items per 1,000m² and litres per 1,000m² to be

able to compare the amounts and volumes of litter by different site types.

The method to normalise the data uses the following calculation:

Items or litres per 1,000m² = the number of items counted x multiplied by 1,000 divided by the area of sites

Litter items per 1,000m²

As demonstrated in the tables below, when the area surveyed is taken into account, retail precincts

have the highest litter count in Victoria. The 2016/17 monitor recorded, on average, 18 items per

1000m², unchanged from the 2015/16 monitor.

Litter volume per 1,000m² (excluding illegal dumping)

A different result is observed in volumetric terms, with industrial precincts having the highest volumes

of litter per 1000m² in Victoria. Overall, litter loads decreased across almost all site types, with the

exception of industrial precincts, retail precincts and car parks. The total overall volume of litter has

dropped to 1.3 litres per 1000m² in 2016/17 from to 1.5 litres per 1000m² in the 2015/16.

Detailed Litter Count Tables – Victoria

Detailed Litter Volume Tables – Victoria

Appendix 1 - Rural Highways Results

The 2016/17 monitor of the incremental rural road sites counted 7% more litter than observed in

2015/16, with the bulk of the increase represented by beverage containers, takeaway food and other

paper litter, offset by marginal reductions to cigarette related litter, other plastic, plastic bags and

general other litter items.

As shown below, the latest monitor is a continuation in the longer-term trend of reduced litter levels

on Victorian rural highways. Furthermore, there are strong correlations between the rural highway

sites and the broader NLI monitor of Victorian roads. Both site types show similar patterns in litter

counts in addition to having a similar litter stream shape.

Over the longer term, as cigarette related litter falls, takeaway food and beverage container litter have

become an increasingly larger component of the overall litter stream. The 2016/17 monitor saw

beverage container litter join takeaway food packaging litter as the largest contributors to the litter

stream.

On a volumetric basis, there was a corresponding 22% rise in litter volumes although there were mixed

impacts within categories evident. For example, despite finding less cigarette butts, the volume

increased due to finding more, higher volume cigarette packets.

As shown in the table below, Victorian rural highways have lower relative litter loads (both in terms

of items counted and their volumetric impact) than seen in both the broader NLI monitor of Victorian

roads and the state as a whole.

2016/17 Litter Loads Vic Rural Highways Vic NLI Highways Vic NLI Total State

Items Counted (per ’000 sq m)

4.4 6.5 18.0

Volume (litres per ’000 sq m)

0.9 1.1 1.3

Rural Highway Charts

NLI Major Road Highway Charts

ItemsVolume -

Litres

VIC

VIC

Butts & Packaging 26 1.309

Beverage Containers 31 15.290

Takeaway Food & Beverage 34 6.122

Other Glass 1 0.020

Other Paper 20 0.066

Other Plastic 0 0.000

General Other 19 3.665

Plastic Bags 1 0.034

Illegal Dumping 0 0.000

GRAND TOTAL 131 26.505

Butts & Packaging 31 0.875

Beverage Containers 24 12.592

Takeaway Food & Beverage 28 5.623

Other Glass 1 0.010

Other Paper 18 0.061

Other Plastic 2 0.002

General Other 18 2.499

Plastic Bags 2 0.051

Illegal Dumping 0 0.000

GRAND TOTAL 122 21.711

Butts & Packaging 17.7% -49.7%

Beverage Containers -31.9% -21.4%

Takeaway Food & Beverage -21.4% -8.9%

Other Glass -100.0% -100.0%

Other Paper -8.3% -8.3%

Other Plastic 100.0% 100.0%

General Other -2.8% -46.7%

Plastic Bags 33.3% 33.3%

Illegal Dumping 0.0% 0.0%

Grand Total (excluding illegal dumping) -7.0% -22.1%

GRAND TOTAL -7.0% -22.1%

Areas Surveyed 30000 30000

Items counted excl illegal dumping) 131 27

Per 1,000 sq m 4.4 0.9

Areas Surveyed 30000 30000

Items counted excl illegal dumping) 122 22

Per 1,000 sq m 4.1 0.7

Butts & Packaging 31% 5%

Beverage Containers 20% 58%

Takeaway Food & Beverage 21% 23%

Other Glass 1% 0%

Other Paper 8% 0%

Other Plastic 3% 0%

General Other 17% 14%

Plastic Bags 1% 0%

Illegal Dumping 0% 0%

GRAND TOTAL 100% 100%

-9 -4.794

SHARE OF

TOTAL LITTER

STREAM

2015/16

YOY REDUCTION

2015/16

RURAL H'WAYS ANNUAL

2016/17

2015/16

%

REDUCTION

2016/17

ItemsVolume -

Litres

VIC

VIC

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20 0.002 0 0.000 0 0.000

Alcoholic sodas / spirit-based mixers, all sizes 1 0.187 y 1 0.187 0 0.000

Beer, all colours of glass, <750ml 6 2.546 y 6 2.546 0 0.000

Beer, all colours of glass, 750ml+ 1 0.454 y 1 0.454 0 0.000

Cider/fruit based etc. 1 0.458 y 1 0.458 0 0.000

Flav.wtr/fruit j. dr/sprts dr, (non-carb), <1 litre 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav.wtr/fruit j. dr/sprts dr, (non-carb), 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. water/soft drink (carbonated) <1 litre 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. water/soft drink (carbonated) 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Fruit juice, < 1 litre 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Fruit juice, 1 litre+ 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Other glass 1 0.020 0 0.000 0 0.000

Plain water (carbonated or non-carb.), <1 litre 1 0.291 y 1 0.291 0 0.000

Plain water (carbonated or non-carb.), 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Wine & spirit, all sizes 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Wine cooler, all sizes 1 0.187 0 0.000 0 0.000

Total 10 4.142 8 3.935 0 0.000

0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Aerosols - pressure packs 1 0.342 0 0.000 0 0.000

Alcoholic sodas & spirit-based mixers 8 3.236 y 8 3.236 0 0.000

Beer, aluminium, all types, all sizes 3 1.079 y 3 1.079 0 0.000

Cider/fruit based etc. 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. water/soft drink, (carbonated), all sizes 9 3.617 y 9 3.617 0 0.000

Flav. water/soft drink, (non-carb), all sizes 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Foil take away 0 0.000 0 0.000 y 0 0.000

Food cans (including pet food) 1 0.464 0 0.000 0 0.000

Industrial cans - all types 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Metal bottle tops and can pull rings 7 0.026 0 0.000 y 7 0.026

Metal pieces 1 0.005 0 0.000 0 0.000

Other foil 2 0.002 0 0.000 0 0.000

Total 29 8.771 19 7.931 7 0.026

Clothing & materials 2 0.031 0 0.000 0 0.000

Condoms 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Construction materials 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Disposable nappies 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Ice cream sticks 3 0.003 0 0.000 y 3 0.003

Other miscellaneous 1 0.014 0 0.000 0 0.000

Rubber pieces (not tyres) 1 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Syringes 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Tyres & pieces 1 0.113 0 0.000 0 0.000

Total 8 0.160 0 0.000 3 0.003

Cartons, flavoured milk < 1 litre 1 0.336 y 1 0.336 0 0.000

Cartons, flavoured milk 1 litre+ 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Cartons, fruit juice, < 1 litre 1 0.312 y 1 0.312 0 0.000

Cartons, fruit juice, 1 litre+ 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Cartons, milk, plain (white) all sizes 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Cigarette packets 6 1.307 0 0.000 0 0.000

Cups/take away containers 8 5.467 0 0.000 y 8 5.467

Flav. water/fruit j. drink/sports drink, non-carb, <1 litre 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. water / fruit j. drink/ sports drink, (non-carb), 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Ice cream wrappers 0 0.000 0 0.000 y 0 0.000

Junk mail / free circulars 1 0.087 0 0.000 0 0.000

Newspapers & magazines 1 0.590 0 0.000 0 0.000

Other paper 20 0.066 0 0.000 0 0.000

Packages & boxes 3 0.200 0 0.000 0 0.000

Paper bags 3 0.032 0 0.000 0 0.000

Shopper dockets & related shopping paper (eg, lists) 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Tickets, e.g. bus, ATM, vending machine etc. 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Total 41 8.398 1 0.649 8 5.467

6 ring can holders 1 0.001 0 0.000 0 0.000

Bags - heavier glossy typically branded carry bags 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Bags - supermarket type light weight carry bags 1 0.034 0 0.000 0 0.000

Bread bag tags 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Containers, domestic type 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Containers, industrial e.g. oil 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Drink pouches 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. milk, <1 litre 3 1.598 y 3 1.598 0 0.000

Flav. milk, 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav.wtr/fruit j. dr, sprts dr etc.(non-carb) <1 litre 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. wtr/fruit j. dr, sprts dr etc.(non-carb) 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Flav. water/soft drink (carbonated) <1 litre 1 0.622 y 1 0.622 0 0.000

Flav. water/soft drink (carbonated) 1 litre+ 0 0.000 y 0 0.000 0 0.000

Fruit juice <1 litre 1 0.200 y 1 0.200 0 0.000

Fruit juice, 1 litre+ 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Lollipop sticks 1 0.000 0 0.000 y 1 0.000

Other plastic 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Packing tape & straps 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Plain water (carbonated or non-carb) <1 litre 2 1.182 y 2 1.182 0 0.000

Plain water (carbonated or non-carb) 1 litre+ 1 0.771 y 1 0.771 0 0.000

Plastic bottle tops 2 0.016 0 0.000 y 2 0.016

Sacks - sheeting - other bags 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Snack bags & confectionary wrappers 7 0.055 0 0.000 y 7 0.055

Spoons/ cutlery 3 0.029 0 0.000 y 3 0.029

Straws 2 0.008 0 0.000 y 2 0.008

Styrene foam boxes, sheets, etc 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Take away & cups 3 0.518 0 0.000 y 3 0.518

White milk, all sizes 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Wine cask bladders 0 0.000 0 0.000 0 0.000

Total 25 5.033 7 4.373 17 0.626

GRAND TOTAL 131 26.505 34 16.888 34 6.122

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Beverage Containers Takeaway Food

VIC - 2016 & 17 AVERAGE

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CIGARETTE BUTTS

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ILLEGAL DUMPING

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