Beaches all over the world were a hive of activity on Saturday 17 September where young and old joined forces and got their hands dirty to mark International Coastal Clean-Up Day.
Clean-up crews were visible at Lagoon Beach in Milnerton, Sunset Beach, Melkbosstrand as well as Bloubergstrand Beach.
International Coastal Clean-Up Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of September. It is a voluntary event that has seen many Capetonians head to the beaches across the city to remove debris, and rubbish from shorelines, waterways and the oceans.
100th beach clean-up
TygerBurger captured the day at a few beaches, including Save a Fishie’s 100th beach clean-up held at Lagoon Beach with over 150 volunteers braving the cold and wet weather.
Organiser Zoë Prinsloo says they collected 10 236 kg of waste for the day.
“An absolutely amazing turnout for this very special occasion with a surprise early visit from Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor, which was really special. Thank you for taking the time to come out and chat with me. A huge thank you to Sinead and Jamie and the team from Dove Cotton who were our awesome partners for the clean-up. They generously sponsored five incredible prizes for our lucky draw, as well as amazing caps and T-shirts (branded with Save a Fishie 100th Beach clean-up on them). What a special memento that I will definitely treasure. They also supplied water and sweets for our volunteers. A huge thank you to them as a company for stepping up and acknowledging the part they have played in creating the earbud litter situation and for being willing and enthusiastic to help fix the problem and make a change,” she says.
The City’s deputy mayor, Eddie Andrews, together with the Junior City Council members were among the volunteers collecting waste at the Lagoon Beach area, south of the Milnerton Lagoon, and at the Zeekoevlei Yacht Club.
Cape Town’s 307 km coastline has more than 70 beaches, tidal pools, rocky and sandy shores, coastal dunes, estuaries and more.
“It was amazing to see so many Capetonians including learners, students and visitors getting down to the business of collecting waste in the different places across the city, doing their bit. We all have a responsibility to protect and preserve the environment, the City cannot do it alone. Thus, I want to thank all of those who have participated,” Andrews says.
He adds that last year’s clean-up event was a huge success. They saw a significant turnout of volunteers who spent many hours collecting tons of waste and the difference was visible.
“This year, I believe that the number of volunteers has almost doubled – more people on the ground means more waste collected.
“Not only is this a clean-up, but it also creates awareness and education about the harmful effects of waste on the environment and helps people adopt good habits for when they next visit the beaches,” Andrews says.
Robben Island clean-up
Another clean-up was held on Robben Island through a partnership with the Robben Island Museum (RIM) and Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB).
“My and your relationship with our oceans has to improve fundamentally if we are going to preserve life on this planet as we know it”.
These were the words of Sabelo Madlala, environmental manager at RIM, in observing this year’s International Coastal Clean-Up Day on the island.
Through an enduring partnership CCPB and the RIM team, more than 150 volunteers and environmental partners cleared a huge amount of waste that had washed up around the island in the past few months. Thanks to these volunteers the campaign exceeded its target of 500 bags being filled.
Robben Island, a World Heritage site – draws more than 300 000 visitors annually and is also home to a large variety of animal and bird life and flora species. Unfortunately, it also attracts large volumes of pollution and waste, through the passing ships, shipping lanes and land-based sources such as careless littering on beaches, as well as rubbish from Cape Town’s stormwater drains and rivers that flow into Table Bay.
This affects many marine animals and sea birds, either becoming entangled in or ingesting harmful objects. The goal of the coastal clean-up day is to promote greater environmental conservation awareness and to enhance and preserve ecosystems around the island.
Priscilla Urquhart, head of public affairs for CCPB says: “We will continue our commitment to protecting our environment and shorelines through community and beach clean-ups throughout the year, working with various partner organisations and taking consumers along the journey of recycling.”
