The national clean-up event will take place on the first weekend in March, with hundreds of school children, businesses and volunteers expected to take to the streets to clean up the shire’s beaches, parks and waterways.

Eurobodalla Shire Council is calling as many volunteers as possible to register and get involved by removing rubbish from their local environment on Sunday, March 3.

The Eurobodalla’s Clean Up coordinator, Maree Cadman, said worldwide over eight million tonnes of plastic entered the ocean each year, with more than 80 per cent originating from land.

“It's the bottle caps down the stormwater drain, the plastic packet left in the park, the straw discarded at the bus stop – these are what travel through our waterways damaging our wildlife and ecosystems,” Ms Cadman said.

“We can help by collecting the trash before it ends up in our rivers or in the ocean.”

Ms Cadman said any location in the shire could be registered as a site for Clean Up Australia Day.

“Anyone of any age can pitch in and clear a carpark of empty bottles and cigarette butts before they wash down the drain,” she said.

Clean Up Australia Day has been held in the Eurobodalla for 29 years, with tonnes of litter removed from the shire’s streets, beaches and bushland.

“Last year, over 200 volunteers, and thousands students from 12 shire schools, participated in the event, collecting 40 cubic metres of rubbish,” she said.

“For those who can’t make it on Sunday, we can register individuals and groups to help clean up on a day that suits them better.”

To register, visit www.cleanup.org.au. For help with registering and finding sites to join near you, contact Maree Cadman on 4474 1343.

Business Clean Up Day: Tuesday, February 26.

Youth and Schools Clean Up Day: Friday, March 1.

Clean Up Australia Day: Sunday, March 3.