It’s not often we get to celebrate a win in the fight against plastic - but this one’s big. A new study by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, shows that plastic pollution along the country’s metropolitan coastlines has dropped by 39% since 2013. That’s nearly a decade of real progress backed by public policy, education, and community action (Independent.co.uk).

The data comes from nearly 2,000 surveys across key urban regions including Hobart, Newcastle, Perth, Port Augusta, the Sunshine Coast, and Alice Springs. Notably, the number of sites with no visible debris at all has risen by 16% - a strong signal that local efforts are paying off.

While the overall trend is promising, plastic is far from gone. Polystyrene fragments made up the largest share of recorded debris (24%), followed by cigarette butts (20%). Other common items included food wrappers, bottle caps, and bits of hard plastic.

Some cities saw bigger improvements than others. Newcastle, Perth, and the Sunshine Coast all recorded noticeable reductions, while places like Hobart and Port Augusta saw pollution levels rise. Inland Alice Springs, despite having no coastline, still reported high levels of beverage can waste.

The study also flagged that areas with more intensive land use and lower socio-economic conditions tend to see higher waste accumulation - showing the close link between environmental and social challenges.

Australia’s progress didn’t happen by chance. A mix of policy changes, public education, and grassroots cleanups helped turn the tide. These include:

• Single-use plastic bans
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• Container deposit schemes
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• Local waste reduction initiatives

Together, these steps are starting to reduce the volume of plastic reaching the environment - and they offer a roadmap for other countries to follow.

Australia has committed to phasing out all unnecessary plastics by 2025, and aims to recycle or reuse 100% of its plastic waste by 2040 as part of its National Waste Policy.

Plastic pollution remains a global crisis. We produce over 430 million tonnes of plastic every year, and only 9% is recycled (OECD, 2022). Without urgent action, the UN warns plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could triple by 2040, reaching up to 37 million tonnes annually.

A legally binding global plastics treaty is in the works - but negotiations stalled in December 2024 and are expected to resume in June.

Australia’s progress shows that change is possible. With the right mix of policy, education, and local effort, plastic pollution isn’t an unstoppable wave - it’s a challenge we can meet head-on.