Photo: Supplied / Tanya Jenkins
Dumped TVs, microwaves and lounge cushions were just some of the items that close to 1000 volunteers collected from Christchurch's waterways this weekend.
More than 600 bags of rubbish- amounting to several tonnes- was removed from the riverbanks as part of the annual Mother of All Clean Ups event, held each year on the eve of Mother's Day.
One of the key organisers, Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust manager Tanya Jenkins, said the litter picked up was varied, but people found masses of plastic bottles and dog poo.
It was disappointing to see little improvement in the waterways after a decade of the event running, she said.
"We are still finding so much rubbish along the roads and along the waterways which is quite sad. We were always hoping when we started ten years ago that we may make ourselves obsolete. That was a bit too optimistic I think- there will always be people who litter, and we still have a lot to educate," she said.
"We unfortunately see a lot of evidence of people dumping large items [in the rivers] because they are not willing to or can't afford to dump it- such as microwaves and TVs."
Photo: Supplied / Tanya Jenkins
Jenkins said the event was also an awareness campaign.
"A lot of people don't realise how much rubbish is in the rivers when you drive or walk past, you don't always see it."
Jenkins said over 60 community groups took part in the cleanup, including school groups and businesses, and organisers were incredibly grateful to all that showed.
"A lot of businesses and groups come back each year because they feel they're doing something positive. More businesses joined this year- doing it as a staff event- which is really fabulous to see."