What is litter monitoring?
Litter surveys are conducted by recording the amount and types of litter found at carefully selected locations in various habitats (e.g., on land, in rivers, and on beaches). This information can be used to understand where the most polluted areas are, where the litter is coming from, what the problem litter items are, and how we can address the litter problem.
Litter monitoring involves repeated surveys and tracks changes in litter over time.
Results from
our surveys
SURVEYS COMPLETED
LITTER ITEMS COLLECTED
KGS OF LITTER COLLECTED
% OF LITTER THAT IS PLASTIC
Why is Litter Monitoring Important
Developing a litter baseline in Africa, through litter monitoring, is therefore a key step to ensure impactful results are achieved in litter reduction. SST’s litter monitoring project aims to measure and monitor litter on land, in catchments, and on beaches. These results will then be used to guide litter reduction measures and assess how affective these interventions are.
What we’ve been up to
SST Litter research
As part of SST’s litter monitoring research project in Nelson Mandela Bay, the litter monitoring team is undertaking litter surveys on beaches, on land, and in catchments.
Working with other departments
In addition to doing scientific surveys, the litter monitoring team also assists other SST departments with monitoring-related projects. This includes assisting with the development of citizen science training materials, litter datasheets, and data analysis. The team also provides data for education and awareness campaigns.
Wiomsa Marine Litter Monitoring Programme
SST’s litter monitoring team is one of seven African partners in the WIOMSA Marine Litter Monitoring Programme. The programme aims to determine litter baselines on a regional level.
African Marine Litter Monitoring Manual
SST is proud to announce the publication of the African Marine Litter Monitoring Manual. The manual provides protocols for litter monitoring in various habitats.