Splendour artists help green groups clean Byron beach, haul 12kg of waste, “one by one is how we do it”

Splendour artists joined environmental groups Green Music Australia and Positive Change for Marine Life clean up Seven Mile Beach south of Byron Bay.

The one-hour clean of 150m of the beach yielded 2435 items, weighing 12kg.

Among the artists were Áine Tyrrell, Luke Henery of Violent Soho, Tay Oskee, Sahara Beck, Emma Bosworth, and The Cutaways.

The idea of the clean up was to highlight the impacts of plastic waste.

GMA’s executive director, Tim Hollo, said “Until you actually get your hands dirty, cleaning up plastic pollution, it’s easy to see this as an issue that’s far away. But once you’ve been involved in a beach clean up, you never see a plastic bottle in the same light again.

“This event is a crucial milestone towards a plastic-free music scene.”

Zoe White, Byron Bay campaign coordinator from Positive Change for Marine Life, said “So far this year the team from Positive Change for Marine Life has collected over 1000 single-use plastic items on Byron’s local beaches, including straws, cups, cutlery & plastic bottles – all of which have quick and easy alternatives.

“Eliminating everyday single-use items such as coffee cups, drink bottles and straws is one of the easiest and most beneficial steps we can make to create a change!

“We just need the right people out there setting a good example and showing how easy it can be.”

Áine Tyrrell pointed out, “Piece by piece is how we begin to undo the devastation done to our oceans.

“And one by one is how we do it.

“Myself and my children were counted as one of the many cleaning up our beaches last weekend!”

Tay Oskee added, “Growing up next to the Great Barrier Reef meant I always felt a close connection to the ocean.

“It saddens me deeply to see the steady increase in plastics washing up on our shores and I believe if we all make a few tiny changes in our everyday life we can all make a difference.”

Auntie Delta from the Arakwal people, the traditional owners of the land, welcomed the artists and PCFML volunteers.

The beach clean up came at the peak of Plastic Free July, which GMA is marking by announcing new artist #BYOBottle ambassadors each day for the month.

Check out Ambassadors’ photos and quotes that are being uploaded daily here.

Earlier this week, Splendour in the Grass announced it is working with Green Music Australia to begin the phase-out of single use plastics on site over the coming years.