It may be rainy season, but the spirits of the Litterboom Project Umhlanga Back a Beach Team have not been dampened. Together, they hauled a massive load of litter that had settled along the beach.
Durban, South Africa (04 March 3036) – In the Source to Sea environmental model, interception serves as the primary defence against plastic pollution. It sees river wardens and reclaimers, like those of The Litterboom Project, play a crucial role in intercepting plastic waste before it reaches our oceans.
Their diligent efforts ensure the removal of all pollution from rivers and oceans, contributing to the restoration of natural ecosystems.
Last week’s heavy rains left a visible mark along Umhlanga’s coastline and saw these incredible stewards of the environment, the Umhlanga Back a Beach Team, working together on site to clear waste that washed through the Ohlanga system and settled along the beach.
A total of 538 bags (1,728 kg) were redirected to an appropriate landfill, and 483 bags (604 kg) were taken in for recycling.
“That’s over 2.3 tonnes removed from a small stretch of coastline in just one week — and there is still plenty more to do,” The Litterboom Project shares.
The team is based at the Umhlanga Lagoon, where it intercepts waste carried downstream via the Ohlanga River before it enters the ocean. With support from local businesses, the Umhlanga Back a Beach Team has been active through the higher rainfall months, when waste volumes increase significantly. The City’s parks and leisure department has also been very helpful with hauling the collected waste away.
“This coastal effort works alongside our upstream Litterboom team in Blackburn, creating a continuous source-to-sea interception strategy along the river and river mouth.”
The fight against plastic pollution may be an ongoing one, but when the rains come and put pressure on our rivers and coastline rises, we’re truly thankful there is a consistent team on the ground that prevents that waste from staying there or going further than it should.
Sources: The Litterboom Project
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