Plastic straws, cups and bags, which end up in landfill and our waterways, polluting the environment with non-biodegradable waste would all be out. 

At the Katherine Town Council meeting last night, Alderman Tapp Coutts said Katherine needs to alleviate the town’s waste generation, which is going straight to landfill. 

“This is a way to get out in front,” Alderman Tapp Coutts said. 

She said Katherine also needs a better recycling program.

Katherine’s waste has increased significantly over the past year, from 14,000 kg to 21,000 kg. 

While some of the extra waste is a result of the Katherine East development, a significant amount can be attributed to the extra litter picked up by depot employees. 

The main problem areas for the high accumulation of litter include under the High Level bridge, various locations on Riverbank Drive and Railway Terrace, and occasionally, the Sportsgrounds.

And this does not take into account the extra litter discarded on Katherine Terrace, which is owned by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics. 

Not only is the additional litter costing the town, but also contributing to a world wide environmental crisis.