Take 3 for the Sea is keeping tourist destinations litter-free

Ground Swell is a coordinated, whole-of-industry approach to rolling out litter prevention strategies for the NSW visitor economy industry.

Beautiful litter-free destinations attract visitors. High concentrations of litter significantly impact locations by discouraging visitors, impacting economies and harming wildlife.

Take 3 for the Sea‘s Ground Swell program envisions litter-free destinations; empowering the Visitor Economy Industry (VEI) to prevent and reduce the impact of visitor litter and waste. Ground Swell educates and inspires businesses to be responsible for litter/waste prevention and to encourage their domestic and international visitors to do likewise.

Ground Swell’s goal is to inspire ownership of visitor litter by creating awareness, inspiring partnerships, and developing resources to enable VEI businesses to address their litter issues. Ground Swell is an Environment Protection Authority, Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded by the waste levy.

Ground Swell’s significant impact on long-term litter reduction in the NSW VEI, contributes to SDGs 14 and 6 by reducing the amount of litter entering NSW waterways, SDG 12 by raising visitors’ awareness of responsible consumption/waste disposal, SDG 13 by informing visitors of the plastic/ climate change connection and SDG 17 inspiring partnerships to reach the goals.

Industry leaders have joined forces with Take 3 to inspire and empower the industry to own it and act on litter with the development of the NSW VEI Litter Prevention Strategy and Litter Reduction Toolkit or resources.

Over 54,000 visitors have already been educated on visitor litter as a direct result of Ground Swell. 160 NSW VEI businesses have so far engaged in the program with inspiring results.

Economic

Glenworth Valley: reported 15% reduction in litter; collected 22,180 items in ‘Return and Earn’ containers, preventing landfill/litter and generating $2,218.

Youthworks: reported bottom-line improvements by eliminating plastic wrap and packaging for lunches. "Often organisations have this false idea that change will be big and costly but this project showed us that it's not the case“ Sophie Fenner, Youthworks Christian Outdoor Education

Environmental

Southern Cross Kayaking: eradicated 100% of single-use plastics; removed 20kg of litter per Colo/Hawkesbury tour; and reported a 20% reduction in litter around Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, Wollemi National Park.

Melaleuca Backpackers: reported 4,205 pieces or 131.5kg of litter collected over 15 trips and encouraged guests to Take 3.

Social

C Change Adventures: educated 3000+ visitors on litter prevention by including litter prevention/actions in their communications and face-toface storytelling.

Melaleuca Backpackers: reported 100% of guests (2,800) educated in litter prevention; requested their linen provider not wrap clean linen in plastic and use a reusable bag; and advised guests how to separate waste correctly.

Ground Swell's innovation is in the bottom-up approach that takes participants beyond the obvious ‘first aid’ of litter clean ups to active litter prevention, providing a valuable deeper layer of education to those dependent on tourism in any natural ecosystem.

The program’s strategy takes an industry and sector approach, creating awareness and engaging VEI businesses/stakeholders who subsequently educate their visitors to own it and act on litter.

Active Litter prevention hubs have formed organically due to the collaborative nature of the program, resulting in communities leading and empowering others to take action and demonstrate pride in their destination.

Take 3 for the Sea won the 2023 NSW Sustainability Award for Sustainable Tourism.

take3.org/