More than 100 kilograms of plastic, rubbish and debris was collected from Warrnambool's Hopkins River on Saturday.
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Canoers and kayakers took to the water to clean the river while other volunteers on land cleaned around the shoreline.
The Paddle against Plastic, organised by Warrnambool Beach Patrol and Ocean Crusaders, saw more than 25 people come together to help remove waste from the much-loved river.
Organiser Britt Gow said getting on the water was important as it was somewhere that rubbish wasn't removed from regularly.
Volunteers collected plastic rubbish, straws, styrofoam, bottles, cans, cardboard, cigarette butts, fishing rope and line, shoes and bottle caps.
Even a bike and a broken mobile phone were found.
"We've had a great turn up of people in canoes where Beach Patrol can't usually get to," Mrs Gow said.
"All the rubbish is sorted and the information about it collected and uploaded to the Australian Marine Debris initiative database. That gives scientists a way of analysing the data and finding out where it is coming from so hopefully they can work on solutions to stop or reduce the amount of debris we are finding."
Ocean Crusaders Ian Thomson said the group specialised in waterway cleaning.
His truck was loaded with kayaks so volunteers who did not have their own could borrow one to get out on the river.
"We work with Beach Patrol a lot," he said.
"It's a really good collaboration for us to come together on the Hopkins and pull out what is about 100 kilograms of rubbish. It has been a fantastic day. The group here do an awesome job. We are really stoked the community has engaged and come down and helped."
He said marine life was suffering due to the amount of debris in waterways and was pleased plenty of younger people had volunteered their time.
Mrs Gow said local species such as the southern right, blue and humpback whales, little penguins and leafy sea dragons were "very important" to the south-west.
"As well as the visual amenity of the place we want to keep it clean and safe," she said.
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