Join World Cleanup Day 2025
Mercury Bay — we need you!
On Saturday, September 20th, Wāhi Tukurua is inviting the whole community to take part in World Cleanup Day 2025, and together, we’re aiming for our biggest haul yet: over 2,000kg of waste removed from our beaches, waterways, streets, and reserves in just three hours.
We’ll be joining millions of people across 190 countries who are all rolling up their sleeves on the same day, united by one goal: a cleaner planet. But for us, it’s also about protecting the very place we call home.
Why it matters here in Mercury Bay
Every storm, every tide, and every careless moment adds to the waste in our environment. We’ve found everything from plastic bottles and fishing gear to food wrappers and even tyres on our beaches. These items don’t just look bad, they stick around for decades or even centuries, breaking down into microplastics that pollute our sand, water, and seafood.
In 2023 and 2024, local volunteers helped remove over 1,780kg of rubbish during World Cleanup Day events. It’s a massive achievement, but it’s only scratching the surface. The Wāhi Tukurua team sees waste piling up year-round: litter in reserves, dumped rubbish in bush laybys, and debris washed in from the sea.
“Waste isn’t just an eyesore – it’s a hazard to marine life, birds, pets, and even people,” says Tracey Bell, Wāhi Tukurua Chair. “We live in a world-class environment. If we want to keep it that way, we all need to take responsibility for what ends up in it.”
About the day
Date: Saturday, September 20th
Where: Buffalo Beach Reserve (main base)
Time: 9:30am briefing → clean-up → sorting & weighing
Bring: Gloves, reusable bags/buckets, refillable water bottles, friends, family, and plenty of enthusiasm!
Once the cleanup is done, all collected waste will be sorted and weighed, with data recorded to help us understand where the biggest issues are and how we can tackle them in the future.
A day for everyone
“World Cleanup Day is one big, feel-good hit of action,” says Tiffany Reed, Event Coordinator. “It’s amazing to see kids, retirees, business owners, students – people of all ages working side by side for the place we love.”
And it’s not just about Whitianga; if you live in another Mercury Bay community and want to host your own Clean Up Day, we’ll support you. Contact Tiffany Reed to find out how to make it happen in your local patch.
Bonus reason to celebrate
This year’s event is especially exciting – it’s the first Clean Up Day since the opening of the new Wāhi Tukurua Resource Recovery Centre on Whitianga’s South Highway West. The new site is all about reusing and repurposing items to keep them out of landfill – so some of the waste we collect could even get a second life.
✅ How to get involved
📍 Meet us at Buffalo Beach Reserve on Saturday, September 20th at 9:30am.
🌱 Bring your gear, your friends, and your community spirit.
🌎 Help us keep Mercury Bay beautiful, one piece of rubbish at a time.
