September has arrived, and with it comes the opportunity to further drive SST’s mission and strategy through Clean-Up and Recycle Month and International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), scheduled to take place on 21 September this year.
This global event brings together volunteers and organisations worldwide to tackle the pressing issue of marine debris, and SST is proud to be the South African coordinator for this important initiative in partnership with Plastics SA.
ICC 2023: A Global Snapshot
The 2023 ICC was a remarkable success, with 118 countries participating. Over 482 000 volunteers worked tirelessly to remove 3 178 837 kilograms (over 3 000 tonnes!) of waste from 26 145 kilometres of coastline. In South Africa, 5 730 volunteers collected 60 208 kilograms of waste from 26.4 kilometres of coastline. This represents approximately 1.9% of the total waste removed globally and 0.1% of the total coastline cleaned during the event. While this is a commendable effort, it underscores the need for more comprehensive data collection and increased participation to boost South Africa’s impact in future initiatives.
The Challenges We Face
Despite the successes, several challenges persist:
- Data Recording: Accurate data recording is essential for tracking progress, measuring impact, identifying trends, and informing future strategies. However, getting volunteers and organisers to consistently record and report data remains a hurdle.
- Resource Procurement: Obtaining the necessary equipment for clean-up activities, such as bags, scales, and protective clothing, is often challenging, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure and funding.
- External Factors: Events like COVID-19, Avian Flu outbreaks, and extreme weather conditions can significantly impact volunteer participation and the overall success of clean-up efforts.
Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative and sustained approach.
How You Can Get Involved
- Register and Host a Cleanup: Sign up online , choose a location, clean up, and share your results with us.
- Join an Existing Cleanup: If hosting isn’t for you, find an existing clean-up on our Operation Clean Spot map and join in.
- Collect and Share Data: If you’re participating in a clean-up, collect data on the items you find and share it with us. You can contact us for a data sheet or download the Litter Logga app to make data collection easy.
Let’s help to protect our oceans by making this year’s Clean-Up and Recycle Month and ICC a resounding success. Every piece of litter removed and every piece of data collected contributes to a cleaner, bluer planet with equitable benefits for all.
