Australia's answer to teenage activist Greta Thunberg is now making waves in Far North Queensland.
Arlian Ecker, 15, is known affectionately as Plastic Free Boy, a name that he got after appearing on the ABC Kids television show dirtgirlworld.
"After we made the film Plastic Alarm in 2017, the ABC said they wanted to do a show on me with Dirt Girl and they called me Plastic Free Boy and the name stuck.
"The name Plastic Free Boy refers to the caring child inside of us that loves the ocean and nature."
The catalyst for Arlian's desire to reduce plastic in the ocean and in our environment came on his 11th birthday when he saw three turtles being released back into the ocean after consuming plastic.
"I wanted to know what I could do as a kid to get other kids to care about plastic in the ocean.
"So, my mum and I made a film about animals eating plastic called 'Plastic Alarm' and that's where it all started."
Attention turns to Great Barrier Reef
Six months ago, Arlian moved to Port Douglas and is now working on another film about the Great Barrier Reef.
The movie, be called Plan B, involves filming damaged parts of the reef and the recent coral spawning event.
The film is part of Arlian's campaign to remove single use plastics from the environment.
"Plastics affect us individually, each human unintentionally ingests the equivalent of a credit card in plastic each week," he said.
"I want to do as much as I can as a 15-year-old to help protect the environment and our future."
Comparisons have been drawn between Arlian and teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg, which he took as a compliment.
"While David Attenborough is a big inspiration for me environmentally, I watch a lot of his documentaries and he has helped to grow my love for the environment," Arlian said said.
"Greta is my biggest inspiration, because I see a young person taking control of our future.
"I think she does an amazing job; it would be so good if more kids took action in their day to day lives."
Since moving to Port Douglas six months ago, Arlian has been involved in several local beach clean ups with local foundation Tangaroa Blue while also speaking with local politicians.
"I've also met with (the local) council to find out how their waster facilities work and where does our recycling go, once we put it in the bin."
When not participating in beach clean ups, Arlian is getting ready to launch his latest film, Plan B, due for release March 2022.
"We are expecting to premiere the film at the Ocean Lovers Festival in Sydney next year and then we will send the film to schools nationally and internationally," he said.
"There will also be a tour where I will travel to schools and present the film and talk with other students.
"The film is about focusing on solutions such as planting trees, using less single use plastics, how citizen can help monitor the reef and what we can do as individuals to help save the reef."
