Plastics|SA is proud to be partnering with Let’s Do It! Africa in the first ever World Cleanup Day that will be taking place on Saturday, 15 September 2018, by providing resources towards the biggest, global cleanup event that the world has ever witnessed.  

On this day, more than 150 countries around the world will be mobilized to pick up litter. World Cleanup Day will start in New Zealand when the sun rises, and moving around the globe with the time zones until it sets, end in Hawaii 36 hours later.  South Africa is proud to be one of the 60 countries from the African continent who will be participating in this year’s event!

Background

It is estimated that each year, 8 million tonnes of litter end up in the environment - causing a serious threat to people, wildlife, soil, water and air. The World Cleanup Day is a call to action for the public, decision makers and all citizens alike, to take real action in solving the waste problem.

For the past 22 years, Plastics|SA has been partnering with Ocean Conservancy by coordinating South Africa’s involvement in the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day. This annual event takes place on the third Saturday in September and sees thousands of volunteers each year collecting and removing litter from our waterways as part of Cleanup & Recycle SA week. This year, the week will take place from 10-15 September 2018 - culminating in the first World Cleanup Day on Saturday, 15 September 2018.

“This is the biggest positive civic action the world has seen, and we are fortunate to be part of this global movement that hopes to inspire change in human behaviour,” says Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director of Plastics|SA.

Plastics|SA’s commitment to reducing packaging waste

Packaging waste continues to be one of the biggest culprits when it comes to pollution of our water sources and marine environment. However, as one of the first signatories of the Marine Debris Declaration, whereby 74 plastics associations from around the world have committed themselves to fight marine litter in 2011, Plastics|SA actively supports projects in six key areas aimed at contributing to sustainable solutions, namely education, research, public policy, sharing best practices, plastics recycling/recovery, and plastic pellet containment.

“We have managed to get other packaging streams and retailers to support our efforts and recycling initiatives, such as our beach clean-ups, Operation Clean Sweep, sponsoring litter booms and the Aqua Amazing schools’ education programme. Last year alone, we donated 350 000 yellow refuse bags that were used for clean-ups around the country and assisted coordinators with audited clean-ups,” he says.

Approximately 80% of ocean litter is derived from land based waste. Without effective waste collection, an avalanche of debris will enter the ocean. To prevent this, Plastics|SA is not only encouraging South Africans of all ages, races and backgrounds to participate in this year’s Cleanup and Recycle SA week activities and World Cleanup Day, but also to be responsible in their daily activities by ensuring their recyclables are collected for recycling as we all continue to work towards a common goal: creating a cleaner world.

Launching World Cleanup Day in South Africa

South Africa’s participation in the World Cleanup Day was launched at a beach cleanup that took place at Milnerton’s Woodbridge Island in Cape Town last week. Attending the event was Erik Solheim, United Nations Environment Executive Director, who joined Clean C, the Department of Environmental Affairs, Let’s Do It Africa team, Plastics|SA and other organisations. Solheim said it was very encouraging to see the enthusiasm and the efforts by locals to protect the ocean and keep the beaches clean.

“South Africa is doing great and it is fantastic to see so many people being mobilized. Your country has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and has a very long coastline. However, more needs to be done. We see the problem of litter on the beaches and marine environment all over the world. The good news is humans created this problem, but we can definitely solve it too. We need to clean the beaches and keep them beautiful, but we also need to stop the garbage coming from the source,” Solheim encouraged.

For more information, visit http://cleanupandrecycle.co.za/ or www.letsdoitworld.org

Clean-up and Recycle SA Week will take place this year from 11 – 17 September 2017, with various clean-ups being planned for neighbourhoods, water sources and beaches around the country. One of the highlights of this annual environmental awareness event, will be the 21st International Coastal Clean-Up Day (ICC) that will be taking place on Saturday, 16 September 2017.

Background

Clean-up and Recycle SA Week is an annual initiative by the local plastics industry, supported and endorsed by the various packaging streams and retailers. Each year, close to 120 000 volunteers participate in these clean-up activities that take place along roadsides, rivers, schools, residential and illegal dumping areas. The initiative is supported by provincial governments, local municipalities, environmental organisations, businesses, schools and communities.

“The aim of this week is to increase an awareness of the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling.  During this time, we encourage communities, schools and businesses to clean-up the areas where they work, live and play by collecting the litter and ensuring that it gets recycled,” explains Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director of Plastics|SA.

International Coastal Clean-Up Day: Harnessing the Power of People to Fight Ocean Litter 

One of the highlights of the Clean-up and Recycle SA week, is South Africa’s participation in the International Coastal Clean-up Day – the world’s biggest annual volunteer effort for ocean health that sees thousands of people flock to beaches to pick up and remove litter found in the marine environment. 

“Ocean Conservancy is the international coordinator of the ICC, but Plastics|SA coordinates the beach clean-ups that take place in the three Cape provinces, as well as various river clean-ups that take place inland. We are proud to partner with KZN Marine Waste Network members who take responsibility for coordinating beach clean-ups at all the major beaches in KwaZulu-Natal.  To date, nearly 12 million people have been part of the world’s biggest volunteer effort to protect the ocean, and South Africa is a major part of this success story,” Steyn says.

This year Plastics|SA is also a proud supporter of one of the biggest national clean-up collaborations on this day, by partnering with the Let’s Do It!  Africa campaign and the WESSA Tourism Blue Flag Project - a National Department of Tourism funded coastal conservation and youth development project - to support or implement a number of registered ICC events stretching from the west to the east coasts of South Africa. This collaborative effort will mark one year to the big World Clean-up Day on 15 September 2018. 

“We are definitely seeing an increase in the number of clean-ups being organised inland at rivers, streams and other water sources as the public are realising that trash travels. All litter eventually finds its way to our country’s oceans and onto the beaches”, Steyn explained.

Conclusion

Approximately 75% of ocean litter is derived from land based waste. Without effective waste collection, an avalanche of debris will enter the ocean. To prevent this, Plastics|SA encourages South Africans of all ages, races and backgrounds to participate in this year’s Clean-up and Recycle Week SA activities. 

“At its core, ocean trash is a people problem – perpetuated by the often unwitting practices that industry and people have adopted over time. It affects human health and safety, endangers marine wildlife and costs states and nations countless millions in wasted resources and lost revenue. This year we are celebrating our 21st year of being involved in the International Coastal Clean-up Day. In human years, we would now be considered an adult, and have to adopt adult ways.  Our sincere hope is that South Africans will mature in the way we consider litter by realising the impact our actions have on the environment. We can turn the tide on waste if we all work together!” concludes Steyn.

For more information or to participate in the 2017 International Coastal Clean-Up, visit

www.cleanupandrecycle.co.za or for more information www.plasticsinfo.co.za 

Alternatively, contact the following coordinators:

• Inland Provinces:  Jacques Lightfoot (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
• KZN:  Douw Steyn (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
• Cape Province:  John Kieser (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)