Among the items found were 2000 cigarette butts and 350 glass stubbies, Sea Shepherd coordinator Andrew Holt, who organised the event with Susan Pollock, said.

“It’s just scary,” he said.

Mr Holt said it takes years for cigarette butts to break down.

“I don’t think people realise when they flick them and stomp on them where they end up,” he said.

More than 50 adults and children helped comb the beach, sand dunes and roadside where they collected plastics, alcohol cans and stubbies, junk food containers from fast food restaurants, a car radiator, car wheels, two hubcaps and street signs.

Mr Holt said 18 nurdles were found, but people weren’t specifically looking for them.

“Every time we’ve done a beach clean – and this is our seventh time – we collect more rubbish,” he said.

“It’s an increasing issue and an increasing problem.

“It’s just horrendous.”