Eco Barge Clean Seas founder Libby Edge said Containers for Change had helped reduce the number of containers seen in Whitsunday waters.
“I founded Eco Barge Clean Seas to go out there and clean our beaches and protect our marine life from the threat of marine debris,” she said.
“We have now removed over 206,000kg of debris from our islands.
“Thanks to the Containers for Change scheme, we have seen a dramatic reduction in empty beverage containers actually going out to sea. That’s helping us protect our marine life.
“When you see a vulnerable sea turtle come into our care and it is so sick and so touch and go, to be able to release that beautiful turtle back into the ocean – well that’s our job done right.”