An environment-saving initiative on the East Coast was recognised with a Northern Tasmanian award.
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The Break O'Day Council won the Northern Tasmania Waste Management Group's Waste NoT Award's state or local government category.
The council won with its Hook, Line and Sinker containers which were launched just under a year ago at jetties through St Helens.
Made of PVC pipe, the containers were installed around Georges Bay with the aim to stop fishers from throwing marine waste such as lines, hooks, and sinkers into the water.
The council estimated the containers had collected about 750 litres of waste which would have otherwise entered Georges Bay.
The aim was not just to stop waste from entering the water, but to also raise awareness about the damage marine waste can do to the environment.
Each container features a sticker that says, "did you know that approximately one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed every year by marine waste?"
The message was also spread and the containers demonstrated by the Parks and Wildlife Discovery Ranger Holiday Program last year.
Mayor Mick Tucker said they were very proud to be recognised by the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group for the initiative.
"This idea originally came from a concerned Council officer who was sick of picking up fishing waste from around popular fishing spots," he said.
"Due to the popularity of fishing in our area, this is one very simple thing we can do to make it easier for fishers to do the right thing with their unwanted fishing gear."
Cr Tucker said since the containers were made of PVC pipe they could often also be made from recycled materials.
"Reducing waste is a major focus of our council and we will continue to look for more ways to reduce marine waste and waste in general in our community," he said.
More containers will be installed as the council upgrades jetties throughout the municipality.
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