Despite ongoing efforts to keep Bloubergstrand and Milnerton beaches clean, environmental activists have expressed concern that the litter problem has reached a critical point.
Save a Fishie, an organisation dedicated to beach clean-ups, reported the collection of over 600 kilogrammes of litter just two weeks ago; however, during their latest clean-up event at Milnerton Lagoon Beach, the volunteers were dismayed to find a substantial amount of litter strewn across the beach.
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Speaking to TygerBurger, Zoë Prinsloo, the organiser of these beach clean-ups and founder of Save a Fishie, expressed her disappointment at witnessing the impact of waste on the local environment.
She also noted the discovery of two deceased seals, emphasising that beaches should be a sanctuary for all creatures, ‘not their final resting place.’
With the assistance of eight volunteers, they managed to remove a staggering 168 kilogrammes of litter during their most recent clean-up at the lagoon. Despite their dedicated efforts, the problem persists, and Prinsloo remains determined to continue their work for the sake of future generations.
Reports of litter along Bloubergstrand and Sunset Beach have flooded social media, prompting many volunteers to offer their support to local organisations involved in clean-up efforts.
Some suspect that the litter originates from the sea itself rather than from people littering directly on the shoreline.
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Caroline Marx, an environmental activist and founder of the Facebook group ReThinkTheStink, believes it is an opportune moment for the City to deploy litter traps to address the issue.
Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation, explained that litter booms have already been placed in the water along roads to reduce solid waste reaching the beach. However, Marx pointed out that these booms only capture some floating debris and are less effective at trapping heavier items.
‘They don’t catch heavier items like nappies, and when it rains, they get submerged, and everything flows over or under them. The litter fences put elsewhere seem to work far better,’ she noted.
The City of Cape Town reported collecting nearly 200 000 additional bags of litter last year as part of joint efforts involving the City, residents, civil society, schools and businesses.
This year, they plan to intensify cleaning operations in litter hotspots throughout the metro and encourage residents to organise clean-up initiatives in their communities.
They have also established a 24-hour toll-free number (0800 110077) for residents to report illegal dumping tip-offs, with rewards for information leading to arrests.
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Local ward councillor Anthony Benadie responded to reports of accumulated waste, primarily plastic, on the beach by coordinating with solid waste teams to clean up the area. The initial results appear promising, with plans for ongoing clean-up efforts.
‘Thanks (residents) Ryan Harris, Andrew Malcolm, Tremaine Thomson and Sonet Soothill for bringing it to the fore,’ he said.
Zoë Prinsloo emphasised the importance of community involvement in protecting the shoreline. While beach clean-ups are vital, long-term sustainability and responsible waste management are equally crucial.
She invited residents, schools and companies to participate in clean-up activities and encouraged those interested in sponsoring clean-ups or volunteering to contact [email protected].
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Picture: Aaron Yun / Unsplash