The Great Barrier Reef: Doing your bit to look after it

The Great Barrier Reef really is closer than you think. What you do at home, work and at school can affect the Reef.

Together, we can all make a difference by looking after the Reef and helping protect the animals and plants that call it home and the heritage and lifestyle that is important to us.

You can do your bit to keep it great by doing these simple things:

At home

Recycle what you can - for example, plastics, paper, batteries and mobile phones
Buy food and products with minimal or no packaging, or packaging that can be recycled
Set up a worm farm and use the castings to fertilise your garden
Compost fruit and vegetable scraps, shredded paper, grass clippings, leaves and cuttings (except noxious weeds and diseased cuttings), vacuum cleaner dust, used vegetable oil, tea leaves and bags, coffee grounds and egg shells
Wash your car on the lawn, not on the driveway or road, to minimise detergent runoff into drains
Operate your dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load
Use environmentally-friendly cleaners and fertilisers
Keep gutters, sinks and drains free of chemicals and rubbish as what washes down sinks and drains could end up on the Reef
Minimise water runoff by planting trees, garden beds and ground cover around your home
Use re-useable shopping bags rather than plastic bags
Participate in community clean-up days
Open windows and catch the breeze rather than using an air conditioner
Clean filters in your air conditioner and dishwasher regularly so they run efficiently
Install energy efficient lighting and appliances such as induction cook tops
Donate quality second hand furniture, household items and clothing to charity organisations, rather than sending it to landfill
Share these messages and your knowledge about the Great Barrier Reef with others.

At work

Encourage recycling in the office environment
Only order the stationery you need
Think about what documents you print and utilise electronic publishing
Take your own coffee mug instead of using polystyrene cups
Re-use office paper � use recycled paper and promote double sided printing and copying
Reduce energy consumption by switching off lights when you are not in your office
Turn your computer monitor off when not in use
Have your air conditioner maintained regularly.

At school

Join the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Reef Guardian Schools programme
Encourage recycling and revegetation programmes
Reduce plastic use in your school / conduct a waste audit
Conserve and manage water and energy use in school buildings
Hold a clean-up day at your school, park, creek, beach or oval
Form an environmental committee in your school to try and make your school sustainable
Use the 'at home' messages at your school - get everyone involved.