Just days after World Environment Day, nature has been dealt a devastating blow along Ballina’s coastline, with waves of plastic pollution washing ashore in one of the worst local outbreaks in memory.

Shocked residents are describing the situation as if the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” has landed on our doorstep, with piles of plastic and microplastics littering iconic beaches like Lighthouse, Shelly, Sharpes, and Patches Beach.

But in the face of the mess, the community is fighting back.

Community Steps Up

On Sunday morning, volunteers turned out with gloves and buckets, cleaning up what they could by hand.

At Lighthouse Beach, long-time Ballina resident Lyn Dollery was among them. She’s been cleaning the beach every weekend for years—but said she’s never seen anything like this.

“This is the worst I’ve seen in 50 years,” Lyn said. “It’s like that great floating island of plastic in the ocean has come here. I filled two bags just from a short walk, and my knees gave out. It’s heartbreaking.”

Lyn says she’s not alone—many locals make cleanups part of their routine. But this week, the volume of plastic has overwhelmed even the most seasoned volunteers.

“People walk by, they see the rubbish, and keep going. We need more hands—maybe even a proper community operation. But really, this is a global problem. We’re just seeing the front line.”

“We Come Every Week. It’s Getting Worse.”

At nearby at Shelly Beach, another group had gathered. Some were regulars, others first-timers moved to action by social media.

Courtney Nelson, who’s been doing beach clean-ups since the 2022 floods, says the rubbish is changing.

“The bigger stuff is becoming less common. It’s the microplastics that are growing. It’s tiny, colourful, and everywhere.”

Courtney believes real change starts with small efforts.

“If everyone does a little bit, it adds up. You don’t need a big organisation—just a willingness to help on a Sunday morning.”

Next Generation Stepping Up

Nine-year-old twins Tahnee and Eva Ruck were out with their mum Pattie, who saw a post about the pollution on Facebook that morning.

“I gave the girls a choice—bike ride or help the environment. They didn’t hesitate,” said Pattie. “They filled a trolley on their own.”

For many locals, it’s that mix of sadness and pride—seeing the damage, but also the people stepping up—that defines Ballina’s response.

“We love this place,” said Courtney. “We just want to protect it.”

From Global Oceans to Local Sands

Every year, over 11 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean, and that figure is expected to triple by 2040 unless drastic action is taken, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Much of this waste breaks down into microplastics—tiny fragments that are almost impossible to clean and are now being found in marine life, drinking water, and even human blood.

Floating trash accumulates in massive ocean currents like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling gyre of plastic estimated to cover 1.6 million square kilometres—twice the size of NSW. But as weather and tides shift, these plastics wash up on shorelines thousands of kilometres away, including here in Ballina.

What’s the Answer?

Lyn Dollery says we need to start at home.

“We’ve got to reduce plastic use. Recycle better. And we’ve got to get more people down here helping.”

Some are calling for a more organised local cleanup strategy, possibly led by Council or community groups. Others want stronger education and better enforcement on plastic waste.

“We can’t wait for someone else to fix it,” said Lyn. “It’s here now. It’s our problem too.”

A Global Crisis, A Local Response

While the scale of plastic pollution can feel overwhelming, Sunday’s turnout was a reminder that the local community isn’t giving up.

From pensioners to parents and primary school kids, Ballina is fighting for its coastline—one plastic bottle, one handful of microplastics at a time.

As one volunteer put it:

“We didn’t make the mess, but we’re not walking past it either.”