Caring for our Community

Litter might seem small, but it can have a big impact on our environment. In this activity, Scouts will work together to collect, sort, and record litter found around the Scout Hall, local parks, or nearby streets. They'll explore how litter affects wildlife, waterways, and communities—and take real action to help.

This activity is a great way to support Clean Up Australia Day, Keep Australia Beautiful, or other local campaigns.

What you'll need

• Litter audit record sheets and clipboards

• Pens or pencils

• Gloves (one pair per person)

• Tongs for collecting litter

• Buckets or sturdy bags for sorting

• Container Deposit Scheme bags (if available)

• First aid kit

• Closed-toe shoes (required for all participants)

Activity

1. Plan the Clean Up:

   • Explain safety rules: wear gloves, use tongs, tell an adult if you see glass or needles

   • Review how to sort litter into General Waste (landfill), Recycling, and Container Deposit

   • Assign clean-up areas to each Patrol

2. Do the Clean Up:

   • Walk around your designated area and collect litter

   • Sort collected litter into the three categories

   • Record what you find using the litter audit sheet

3. Dispose of Litter Properly:

   • Place waste into the correct bins

   • Keep any eligible containers for the Container Deposit Scheme

Change the challenge level

Easier:

• Focus only on collecting and sorting litter

• Skip the audit sheet and just discuss what was found

Harder:

• Complete a full litter audit with tallies and summaries

• Analyse and discuss the types and locations of litter

• Brainstorm ways to reduce litter as a Scout Group (e.g. signage, bin placement, awareness)

Reflection