About 40 volunteers collected rubbish from the Lake Cathie foreshore on February 2.

Volunteers Craig, Lachlan and Sam Brazel assisted during the morning event.

Craig Brazel said taking part was about stewardship, sustainability and helping out the community.

He was surprised and saddened by the amount of litter the trio collected.

Mr Brazel said volunteering at the clean up was eye-opening and rewarding.

Port Macquarie’s Julie-Anne Thompson was a volunteer with her children Cedar and Dash at the Lake Cathie event.

“We use the ocean a lot and we have an appreciation for it,” she said.

Mrs Thompson said the worst items they found were cigarette butts and Band-Aids.

David and Annette Johnson supported the clean up after learning about Coastal Warriors at the Seaside Scavenge.

“It’s definitely worth it,” Mr Johnson said about volunteering.

The Johnsons have changed their habits since the Seaside Scavenge, ditching plastic wrap and embracing reusable coffee cups, for example.

Coastal Warriors is made up of community members dedicated to preventing plastics and other harmful products entering our waterways.

Coastal Warriors Mid North Coast’s Addam Lockley said there was a great volunteer turn out to the Lake Cathie clean up.

Volunteers consistently support the cause.

“They care about the environment and they want to help,” he said.

Coastal Warriors Mid North Coast’s next clean up coincides with Clean Up Australia Day.

The volunteer-based organisation will stage a clean up at Town Beach on March 3 from 8am to 11am to mark the day.