Kwoorabup Nature School takes the reins on a Denmark coastline clean up with $5.5k no-litter project funding

A new primary student-led litter prevention and education initiative is steadfast on reducing, monitoring and preventing the spread of beach litter in Denmark.

Kwoorabup Nature School is set to kickstart its environmental project Our Beautiful Kwoorabup Coastline dedicated to reducing litter, marine debris and microplastics along local beaches.

Receiving $5500 in funds from the State Government’s Community Litter Grant, the school can now hire a bus to transport students from all year levels to local beaches to conduct seasonal clean-ups, litter audits and track and analyse the types of waste found.

The students will also lead public campaigns to create awareness through posters, videos, artwork and displays including exhibiting their work and findings at the Denmark Environment Centre.

Deputy principal Melanie Trenow said the project aims to not only educate the region about the environment but make a large-scale difference.

“Our students have been leading beach clean-ups for several years and noticed an increasing problem with marine debris, especially recreational and commercial fishing waste, consumer packaging and microplastics,” she said.

“We wanted to go beyond one-off clean-ups and create a structured, ongoing program that also educates the community.

“This project empowers students to take real action and builds a stronger connection between school, community and coastal ecosystems.”

First steps included conducting a baseline litter audit this term at Prawn Rock Channel and Ocean Beach to assess snapper season impact before students publish their findings to the community.

The school will continue seasonal clean-ups and share their data to the region to explore creative reuse opportunities for collected materials.

Maintaining a direct link to the WA school curriculum, the project aims to show students how their learning can make a tangible real-world difference.

Ms Trenow said despite having beautiful beaches, littering had become a growing concern and KNS hoped to “spark more community-wide action”.

“Seasonal trends seem to show higher waste levels at certain times,” she said.

“By collecting data, telling the story through creative media, and inviting the community to join in, we hope to inspire long-lasting stewardship of our coastline.”