Stormwater pollution traps

There are various types of stormwater pollution traps, but they all act like filters. They catch pollution before it has a chance to enter the waterways. They have to be cleaned or emptied regularly, and their content is carried away to landfill. Types of pollution traps include:

• artificial wetlands
• oil and litter booms
• gross pollutant traps
• trash racks
• sediment traps.

How successful are the traps?

Pollution traps will catch more than 1000 tonnes of rubbish this year before it enters our waterways. In other words, that's 100 large truck loads of rubbish that will not reach our rivers, beaches and oceans.

Total pollution capture rates

Ten tonnes of rubbish were removed from this pollution trap in Sydney's Centennial Park in September 1999.

However, it will be cheaper for the community (and better for the environment) if pollution is prevented from entering the drains in the first place. The traps have to be regularly cleaned, emptied and maintained, and this cost can be greatly reduced if there is less pollution entering the stormwater systems.