A community-wide clean-up event in Wānaka this weekend aims to raise awareness of global plastic pollution in waterways and on land, and the rubbish collected will be used in a creative way.

Rubbish collected during the ‘Great Lake Wānaka Cleanup’, taking place tomorrow (Saturday October 23), will become part of a sculpture which is being put on display during next week’s Wao Summit 2021.

The annual summit is a six-day sustainability event organised by local environmental not-for-profit group Wao, and the sculpture, made by local artists, has been made from building waste and chicken wire.

Adding the collected rubbish to it aims to keep the conversation about reducing plastic waste going, Wao co-founder Monique Kelly said.

“Displaying the waste we collect as a sculpture will help tell a story and grow awareness about the amount of plastic pollution locally,” she said.

Members of the public are encouraged to take part in the Great Wānaka Cleanup by collecting as much waste as possible from the town centre’s lakefront, parks and reserves between 9am and 11am tomorrow, meeting at 9am at the Dinosaur Park.

The event is taking place just before the start of NZ Cleanup Week, during which a range of Wānaka groups are cleaning local areas of rubbish.

Related: Local groups cleaning up

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is supporting the Wao Summit and the Great Wānaka Cleanup by providing venue hire and organisational assistance and providing free disposal of the waste collected during Saturday’s clean-up event.

“The clean-up morning makes it easy for everyone in the community to come together and help keep Wānaka’s stunning landscape litter free,” QLDC waste minimisation project officer Katherine Buttar said.

Anyone wishing to take part in the clean-up event is encouraged to bring their own bucket or repurposed collection bag, gardening gloves (rather than single-use gloves), drink bottle and sturdy shoes. Register in advance here.

PHOTO: Supplied