Litter Survey

Litter Survey results for December 2020

Many thanks to Gillian Candler who organises the Pukerua Bay Litter Intelligence surveys. The latest survey was held on Sunday 6 December, and as always the results are published on the website, here.

There was only a quarter of the weight of the previous survey, but very little difference in the litter density; this means that on the whole only small stuff was found. The best find was a plastic nose! This time the weather was agreeable, and it was nice to have Rachel McClellan from Porirua City Council join the survey and to have Briony be the App user too.

The next survey will be held in March 2021.

Litter Survey results for December 2020 Read More »

Litter Survey results

The Pukerua Bay Litter Monitoring Group undertook its first Litter Collection Survey on 8 March. The area we surveyed had previously been surveyed three times in 2019 by other volunteers in the Litter Intelligence project. The results of our survey are logged on the Litter Intelligence website.

We’ll be repeating the survey every 3 months, with the date of the next survey to be advised. This time, 11 local volunteers received training in the litter survey method. We welcome other volunteers, but please be willing to take direction from the Lead Citizen Scientist and follow the survey method.

Key points about the Litter Intelligence project

We repeat the survey in the same place every three months, so that the data can be compared over time. While we clear rubbish off this particular area, the focus is not so much on a beach clean up as on investigating what litter we have found. We categorise the litter and count and weigh it. This part of the survey takes longer than picking up the litter. Our data is added to a nationwide database which can be used to identify problems and trends. Over time, we hope that the litter monitoring community will also be able to come up with solutions to the litter problem.

Sustainable Coastlines provide us with infrastructure, support and equipment, including survey tools, gloves, and litter sacks.

For more information about the Litter Intelligence Project, including ideas about how you can reduce litter in the environment, visit the Litter Intelligence website.

Litter Survey results Read More »

Call for Litter Survey helpers, March 2020

Are you interested in being a part of the Litter Monitoring survey here in Pukerua Bay? This is a Citizen Science project. It’s a bit different from a beach clean up in that we pick up litter in the same area each time, classify it, weigh it or count it and then add the data to the nationwide project. The site is already chosen, and a few surveys have already been run, in June 2019 and December 2019. It’s not difficult terrain, and it is done four times a year. There is training for this project and our first survey will be in early March. See litterintelligence.org for more information, and if you’re keen to participate, please contact Gillian Candler with the form below.

Call for Litter Survey helpers, March 2020 Read More »