Clean Up Australia Day attracts near-record crowd
ABC Radio, Sydney (4 March 2001)

Clean Up Australia Day organisers say they have recorded the second largest volunteer turnout since the event started 12 years ago, with close to 700,000 people involved today.

Early estimates for the amount of rubbish collected are around 10,000 tonnes, which is almost double last year's pile.

Apart from the usual plastic and cigarette butts, some unusual items turned up including a rifle, a safe and a pair of fake breasts.

In New South Wales, Fairfield councillor Thang Ngo says he will call a council meeting on Tuesday, following the discovery of 30 used syringes in a Cabramatta carpark.

"I'll make sure council writes to the Department of Health seeking more needle exchange bins about the place and looking at strategies to encourage addicts to put used needles in those bins," he said.

"At the end of the day we're trying to get compassion for addicts because we don't want to pick on them, however we've got to make sure those used needles are being disposed of properly and responsibly."