By Renee Wood
The community is being encouraged to join a local litter group to help clean up the Yarra Ranges.
No Reason 4 Rubbish first started in 2020, with founder Cindy DeLuca wanting to start a movement that ‘everyone can do’.
The group has since grown on social media to include more than 400 members and there’s still room for more to join.
“Our commitment to our community is a long term investment. Myself, co-founder Kylie Shorter, committee members Michelle Zwagerman and Kath Holton have been invaluable in helping this group stay honest and grow,” Ms DeLuca said.
Ms DeLuca is hoping residents living in other areas throughout the Yarra Ranges will sign on to the Facebook group and share their rubbishing escapades.
“One member found about 800 bottles that have just been stashed in a bushed areas off one of the roads in Healesville, New Grove Road, so someone has been just a serial tosser.”
Roadsides, parks, reserves and local streets are areas group members look to pick up trash and Ms De Luca believes the amount of litter is only growing as the region becomes popular with more visitors.
“There’s coffee cups, there’s beer cans – you name it – cigarette packets, slurpees.
“Healesville railway station, a tourist destination, there’s a lot of rubbish around there, there’s a lot of rubbish in the Queen’s Park area, and people pick up in that area all the time.
“Walking from Maroondah highway the Healesville entrance out towards the Yarra River and that area, we would come back and have eight to nine garbage bags and that’s just one clean up.”
Bendigo Bank has also sponsored the group, allowing NR4R to purchase logoed hi-vis, grabbers, gloves and other safety items.
Yarra Ranges Council has also supported the movement, providing insurance and rubbish pick ups.
A clean up event is being held on Saturday 15 January in Healesville to do a sweep of the area and to connect members.
Locals are welcome to join the group at 9.15am, meeting at the corner of Green and River Street in Healesville with gear to be provided.
“It’ll be a great help establishing a really good relationship with members and the Bendigo Bank, who are one of my major sponsors, and it’s a good feeling once you clean up, you drive or walk back through it and think it looks so good now.”
Those unable to attend can still join group on Facebook at No Reason 4 Rubbish.
