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What we’re learning

Research, Development, and Monitoring focuses on understanding the impact of waste in coastal communities, enabling us to take the necessary action.

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Knowledge drives action

Well-structured, high-quality research programmes foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges affecting sustainable waste management in identified coastal communities. Our African Network Map reveals potential opportunities for collaborative partnerships aimed at sustainable waste management.

We also thoughtfully design all our interventions when it comes to training, skills transfer, capacity building, community upliftment, and enterprise development. Informed impact reporting equips us with the tools we need to assess whether our interventions are effective and have had the desired impact.

A wave of good results

Through coordinated and consolidated action, here’s what we’ve achieved over a span of 4 years.

The launch of the first regional litter monitoring programme for marine plastics

This programme started in 2019 and is a collaboration between the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and SST. The programme has yielded new insights into the amount, type and sources of waste in the eastern Africa region. (However, African remains data poor and this work continues unabated).

The publication of the first African Marine Litter Monitoring Manual

The manual outlines the techniques and adjustments to methods used in our regional litter monitoring programme. A chapter of this manual (beach macrolitter surveys) has been converted into a freely available online course by the African Waste Academy to citizen scientists and researchers.

The introduction of the first Sample Preparation Manual for the analysis of plastic-related pollutants

This manual, builds capacity within Africa for developing datasets related to macro- and microplastic pollutants.

Citizen science training programme focused on the collection of data about abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear

Our training programme empowers individuals to record relevant data while participating in beach litter clean-up activities.

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Our work in South Africa

In Nelson Mandela Bay, our initiatives have enabled SST to refine detailed proof-of-concept models, design principles, and appropriate resources, all aimed at informing comprehensive plans for the sustainable management of plastic waste.

SST plans to scale its innovative proof-of-concept model, Operation Clean Spot (OCS) – which was originally trialled in Nelson Mandela Bay - to other densely populated coastal cities in South Africa. OCS collaborates with engaged citizens, across the packaging value chain to significantly reduce land-based litter. People can adopt a spot, clean it up and share their data. Our goal is to expand this model, along with other design principles from our impact portfolios, throughout the rest of Africa.

As the only African nation that is a member of the Abidjan Convention, the Nairobi Convention, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, South Africa is uniquely positioned to initiate projects along both the East and West coasts of the continent.

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Africa at work

International interventions

We have cultivated strong partnerships with several multilateral organisations in Africa, notably the Abidjan Convention, the Nairobi Convention, and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA). Our design strategies, guidance frameworks, and practical toolkits facilitate the implementation of sustainable waste management measures aimed at mitigating marine pollution, and securing the blue economy, in other African nations.

Anchoring action through research

Monitoring marine waste

Monitoring marine waste

There is a significant lack of data on litter in Africa. We conduct surveys to record the amount and types of litter found at carefully selected locations on land, in rivers, and on beaches. Some examples include plastic bags, plastic bottles, fishing lines, cigarette butts and sweet wrappers. 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.

Remote sensing

On-the-ground waste surveys are often time-consuming, can be unsafe, require a lot of manpower and usually do not cover large areas. To collect data of waste at large scale, specialised methods of data acquisition are required. SST has designed a remote-sensing protocol utilising UAVs (drones) and airplanes to efficiently identify plastic-waste accumulation sites within close proximity to river systems that connect to the marine environment.

Mobile applications

We aim to extend our reach. Mobile applications are convenient, cost effective and widespread, which make them a simple yet powerful tool to collect valuable data at a scale and efficiency that was not previously possible. We have developed and are currently testing a new litter monitoring app that will serve both the general public as well as scientists. This app has been designed to complement the African Marine Litter Monitoring Manual – the litter categories used in the app are based on the datasheets found in the manual, so that data collected using the app are comparable to data being collected using the methods described in the manual (which is being used across African). Once the app is completed, we plan to launch a citizen science initiative using the mobile app, and eventually roll it out to the rest of Africa.

Sea-based sources of waste

Waste can make its way from land to sea but sometimes, it’s sea based. We’ve developed the Sea based Sources of Waste Project to mitigate waste from fishing and other vessels. Our first port of call has been to address vessel waste management at South African commercial ports by reviewing the effectiveness of present port waste reception facilities, waste collection, sorting, and disposal methods. Our goal is to improve South African fishing waste policies to mitigate fishing gear losses at sea and propose the inclusion of recycling initiatives for end-of-life fishing gear, which are supported by stakeholders in the fishing industries. Secondly, we aim to identify the extent of fishing related waste entering the oceans of Africa.

Microplastics

Microplastics are small plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in size and include items such as plastic pellets, fragments, microfibres, and microbeads. They can be mistaken for food particles by marine life, which can cause physical harm as well as leaching potentially harmful plastic-related pollutants into the organism.

To study the presence of plastic-related pollutants in organisms, we have our own sample preparation laboratory in place. The laboratory has been designed to prevent the contamination of samples through the use of specialised equipment, such as a laminar flow cabinet that blows clean filtered air over the samples.

Litter booms & traps

The reduction and removal of urban litter is a complex and difficult task. One method that cities are implementing to reduce pollution in city rivers is litter capturing devices located in stormwater canals and rivers. Cleaning up ocean litter is often difficult and costly, so capturing the litter before it enters the sea is critical. Litter booms are floating devices suspended across a river or canal that trap litter and stop it from flowing downstream. Litter traps have a cage or net that captures litter going into it. There are also combinations of the two, such as where a litter boom has a floating cage attached to it.

Research and publications

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Guidebook

Guidebook Cover

Plastic-Free Seas Guidebook

The successful elimination of waste in Africa depends on countries having National and Regional Action Plans to better manage waste across the value chain.

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Guidebook Cover

Guidebook

Plastic-Free Seas Guidebook

The successful elimination of waste in Africa depends on countries having National and Regional Action Plans to better manage waste across the value chain.

Read More
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Guidebook

African Resource Book Series: A Guide to Plastics

The ultimate ‘A to Z’ of plastics, specifically within the African context.

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Template

National Action Plan template

Download the National Action Plan template (adapted from © Abidjan Convention, United Nations Environment Programme, and Sustainable Seas Trust, 2023).

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This category includes various tiers of governance responsible for policymaking, implementation, and oversight. It comprises:

  • National government, which governs at the highest level of a state,
  • Provincial/Regional authorities that manage sub-national jurisdictions,
  • Local municipalities with elected community representatives for a specific country or district, and
  • Government agencies or institutions, such as environmental departments or authorities, that implement mandates in specific sectors or fields of study.

These are entities formed through collaboration between multiple countries or states to address regional or international concerns. These include:

  • International multilateral organisations created by treaties between two or more nations working towards issues of common interest
  • Regional Economic Bodies that facilitate economic integration in specific African regions,
  • River Basin Commissions managing shared water resources, and
  • Regional Conventions, which are legally binding agreements among states in a region to promote and help localised international standards.

This category includes institutions and academic bodies that generate scientific knowledge and conduct studies related to marine, environmental, or plastic pollution issues. It includes:

  • Research institutes, which are to establish to conduct research
  • Universities, which combine education and academic research at an advanced level.

This category encompasses learning institutions and youth-focused networks that promote environmental awareness and leadership. It includes:

  • Schools for formal education of children
  • Youth networks that represent young people between the ages of 7 and 35, and
  • Youth groups, communities and associations which are informal or formal and focused on empowering youth.

Civil society includes non-state, nonprofit groups active in advocacy, service delivery, or community development. Subcategories include:

  • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating independently from government,
  • Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) committed to specific social or environmental causes,
  • Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) embedded in and serving local communities or significant segments,
  • Charity Groups focusing on philanthropy and social well-being, and
  • Facilitation Agencies that coordinate or distribute services among approved charitable, non-profit making preferred sources.

This sector represents the structured business actors in the plastic value chain, from production to retail. It includes:

  • Importers (such as a country, business or person) buy raw materials or products from another country for use in their own country.
  • Raw material producers provide materials for converters and manufacturers and can include virgin or recycled materials.
  • Converters blending materials (virgin or recyclate) and additives into formulated feedstock.
  • Brand owners who are the owners of a product or service, and retailers, such as FMCG companies that distribute goods.

These are organised and legally recognised entities involved in the collection, processing, and sorting of waste. Types include:

  • Waste logistics companies responsible for transporting and collecting waste and material recovery facilities,
  • Waste processors/recyclers are large scale entities that process waste into secondary raw materials or products,
  • Buy-back centres where recyclables are exchanged for money, and
  • Drop-off sites where recyclables are deposited for disposal or further processing.

This category consists of non-formalised individuals or groups engaged in waste collection and recycling, often for income. It includes:

  • Waste pickers, who collect reusable and recyclable materials independently to either sell on or use for personal consumption,
  • Cooperatives, collectively run collection operation,
  • Informal sector associations that support and represent the informal sector.

This category includes collaborative platforms and representative bodies that promote sector-wide coordination. It consists of:

  • FMCG associations working with brand owners and retailers in circularity,
  • Plastic industry associations represent the entire value chain of plastics, regionally or nationally to drive innovation, technology, and policy,
  • Pacts and networks foster joint commitments and agreements through group or connected systems,
  • Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) are collecting entities set up by the obliged companies or legislation, responsible for waste-related obligations of the obliged companies and assisting with managing collective waste obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.

This category includes organisations and groups that actively work to protect natural ecosystems and biodiversity, both on land and at sea. It encompasses:

  • Environmental organizations/groups that seek to protect, analyse or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation from human forces,
  • Nature reserves are tract of land managed for the preservation of its flora, fauna and physical features,
  • Marine conservation organizations focusing on ocean ecosystems, and
  • Clean-up groups engaging in direct action to clean up the environment.

This category refers to entities specializing in the manufacturing, filling and selling bottles containing products such as water, beverages, and cleaning agents for commercial distribution. Bottlers are typically part of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry and play a significant role in the packaging value chain. They may:

  • Work independently or be linked to brand owners,
  • Rely on imported or locally produced containers,
  • Have obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to manage their post-consumer waste.

This category includes designated locations where waste is deposited, buried, or left in open land. These sights are typically government owned and operated. It consists of:

  • Formal landfill sites, which are engineered and monitored for environmental compliance,
  • These sites are critical points in the waste management system, affecting land use, pollution levels, and the recovery potential of materials,
  • They are often connected to both the formal waste sector (e.g., municipal services) and informal waste collectors who retrieve recyclables from them.