--- title: Sydney Water removes one million plastic bottles from waterways description: Sydney Water is calling on customers to help curb the number of plastic bottles that end up in Sydney’s waterways each year. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - [Member Hub ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-locked-icon.svg "user icon")](https://memberhub.awa.asn.au) - 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[ Upcoming Events ](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events) - [ Events Calendar ](https://www.awa.asn.au/national-events-calendar) - [ Ozwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/events/ozwater) - [ Photo Gallery ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/133291504@N03/albums) - [ Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) Show submenu for Awards ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-plus-icon.svg) ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-minus-icon.svg) - [ Awards Overview ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) - [ Individual Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-individual) - [ Chris Davis AM Fellowship ](https://www.awa.asn.au/chris-davis-am-fellowship) - [ Guy Parker Award ](https://www.awa.asn.au/guy-parker-award) - [ Organisation Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-organisation) - [ Student Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/student-awards) - [ Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards/student-awards/asjwp) - 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The removal of plastic bottles from litter booms in the city’s waterways costs around $420,000 each year, said Sydney Water’s Robert Allen. “On average we remove about 700m³, or about 7t, of plastic bottles from our traps each year, which is the equivalent of about 2900 wheelie bins full of plastic bottles. Placed side-by-side this number of wheelie bins would stretch for over 1km,” Allen said. “These are the figures just for Sydney Water. [Councils across Sydney](https://awa.asn.au/ItemDetail?iProductCode=APRIL_13_J153&Category=JOURNAL&WebsiteKey=9dc929a7-973a-452a-8ebd-7ac0870e5ba9) are facing the same problems with similar costs to remove plastic bottles from their litter traps,” he said. The litter booms have thus far been effective at catching a large amount of the litter that makes its way into Sydney’s waterways, said Cooks River eco-volunteer Peter Munro. “While we prefer that litter didn’t get into our rivers in the first place, the litter booms are removing large amounts of the floating litter, improving the health and appearance of the rivers and protecting our wildlife.” Allen was quick to remind Sydneysiders that it is up to all residents to help tackle pollution in their waterways. “Choosing tap water over bottled water is not only a safe choice, it’s one that can significantly reduce the number of plastic bottles being used in the first place,” Allen said. “If everyone disposed of their rubbish correctly, it wouldn’t end up flowing into our rivers and waterways.” [ Pollution ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/pollution) [ Sydney Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/sydney-water) [ Waterways ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/waterways) [ NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw) [ Sydney ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/sydney) [ Plastic ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/plastic) [ Natural Environment ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/natural-environment) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Sydney%20Water%20removes%20one%20million%20plastic%20bottles%20from%20waterways&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/sydney-water-removes-one-million-plastic-bottles-from-waterways) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/sydney-water-removes-one-million-plastic-bottles-from-waterways) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/sydney-water-removes-one-million-plastic-bottles-from-waterways) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/sydney-water-removes-one-million-plastic-bottles-from-waterways) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Sydney Water installs 12 permanent water stations for SCG ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/sydney-water-installs-12-permanent-water-stations-for-scg) Water Source Sydney Water has teamed up with the Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground (SCG) Trust to install 12 permanent water stations in an effort… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/sydney-water-installs-12-permanent-water-stations-for-scg) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/fireworks-4021214_1920.jpg?width=352&name=fireworks-4021214_1920.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/podcast-united-by-water-episode-18) ### [ Podcast – Beyond 2030 with Paul Higham of Sydney Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/podcast-united-by-water-episode-18) James Greene In the latest episode of our United by Water podcast, host Jo Taranto sits down with Paul Higham (Head of Western Sydney… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/podcast-united-by-water-episode-18) [![IWA WaterReuse27](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/sydney-6803993_1280_pixabay.jpg?width=352&name=sydney-6803993_1280_pixabay.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/waterreuse27-a-major-win-for-australias-water-sector) ### [ AWA wins WaterReuse27 bid securing Sydney as a global water innovation host ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/waterreuse27-a-major-win-for-australias-water-sector) Water Source Sydney will be the host city for the prestigious IWA WaterReuse27 Conference in 2027, following a successful bid led by the… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/waterreuse27-a-major-win-for-australias-water-sector) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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