But what they could not contain was their enthusiasm.

Children have turned out in force to help give Maitland a tidy up as part of the city’s Clean Up Australia Day activities, which began with the Schools Clean Up Day on Friday and followed with community events yesterday.

Maitland Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Maitland Adventurers, aged between three and nine, were rearing to go early yesterday to clean up Green Hills Park behind East Maitland Library.

Organiser Alison Tenorio said it was the third year the group had targeted the site.

“There is about the same amount of rubbish this year as last year,” she said.

“Most of it is takeaway food packaging, plastic bags, a lot of glass and cigarette butts.”

Clean-up sites were scattered across the city, including East Maitland Guide Hall, Thornton Park, Telarah Lagoon, Luskintyre Bridge, Woodberry Oval, Fieldsend Oval and Brooklyn Park at East Maitland.

An estimated 7200 tonnes of rubbish was collected from 6000 sites across the country as part of last year’s Clean-Up Australia Day.

Plastics and cigarette butts were also the most collected items nationwide.

Ms Tenorio said it was easy to maintain the motivation to be part of the day, which marked 20 years since the first clean up was held on Sydney Harbour, not only because of the obvious benefits of a clean environment but the life lessons for children.

“As the kids were walking around they’re saying they’re making the park beautiful,” she said.

Picking up cigarette butts also reinforced the no-smoking message.