Results from the Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index Report have revealed that Victoria’s total litter count is on a continual decline, with a 27 per cent drop compared to last year.

In fact Victoria’s performance has continued to improve, and for the last five years has stood as the lowest national average and is now 47 per cent lower than in other states.

To ensure this positive trend continues, the Andrews Labor Government has announced an investment of $1 million towards the Victorian Litter Plan.

The initiative will see new innovative approaches developed to prevent and reduce the impacts of litter and illegal dumping.

Visiting Collingwood Children’s farm earlier this week, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said that the government hoped to see the numbers decline even further “through more investment, partnerships, and community education programs”.

“By establishing these litter priorities, communities and businesses can better address their waste education needs and deliver targeted and coordinated approaches within their local areas,” she added.

Ms D’Ambrosio also announced the 23 successful Round 1 grant recipients in the Victorian Litter Innovation Fund, with fourteen of the projects specifically targeting marine and coastal litter, and illegal dumping issues that affect the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay Catchment area.

The projects will be delivered in partnership with various organisations, from local government to not-for-profit organisations, and businesses and community groups.

Also launched on the day was the Victorian Litter Report Card 2016 which identifies five priority litter issues that will inform future investment and propose new interventions across the state over the next two years.

Applications for Round 2 of the Victorian Litter Innovation Fund are now open. For more information and to apply, visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au. Applications close Friday 30 September.