Don't be an Australia Day punk, pick up your junk

Keep Australia Beautiful said it's a fair dinkum fact that Australians will throw away tonnes of extra rubbish while patriotically partying over the long weekend.

National CEO Peter McLean said Keep Australia Beautiful is reminding all Aussies, from the back o'Bourke to the big smoke, to do the right thing and put it in the bin.

"Whether it's a barbie with mates or dusting off the budgie smugglers and bikinis for a beach break, let's not forget why we're celebrating this great country," Mr McLean said.

"Tonnes of rubbish including ciggies, tinnies, tents, chairs, thongs and piles of Australia Day paraphernalia are expected to be left by revellers in the hangover.

"We need to be true blue in protecting our natural wonders and that includes making sure our rubbish goes in the bin. There's no excuse to be a bin bludger either, if you can't find one, bag it and take it with you."

A recent three year CSIRO and Earthwatch marine debris survey found that the majority of coastal debris, which can have a devastating impact on our environment, comes from Australian sources and is not carried by currents from elsewhere.

"Aussies need to take a ridgy didge look at themselves this weekend and take some pride and responsibility in cleaning up our own backyard," Mr McLean said.

Celebratory stuff aside, Mr McLean said its Aussie smokers who are still the country's worst litterers.

"According to the Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index 2013-14 23 ciggie butts are collected per 1,000m2 nationally and while this has actually decreased over the past five years, one littered butt is still one too many," Mr McLean said.