Durban harbour is one of the large cities in South Africa. It is home to more than 3.8 million people and the population increases significantly during the summer months as people visit the coast. Favourable weather and an extensive coastline are the main attractions in Durban and the area attracts both national and international visitors. This means that the aesthetic appearance of the harbour is important for the tourism industry and it can cost the taxpayer millions of rands to maintain each year. Durban Habour is also one of the busiest industrial harbours in Africa and is susceptible to pollution for shipping in the area. It is therefore fair to say that both recreational and industrial waste are contributors.
This cleanup was conducted during level 3 lockdown in South Africa when there were limitations regarding the number of people who could visit the beach. As a result, we didn't expect to collect a lot of debris. We collected a total of 252 kg of debris with 40 volunteers over a two hour period. Even though this was not an extensive amount, it was still significant given the lockdown restrictions.
In terms of composition, 62% was plastic, 12% polystyrene and 26% other. Essentially more than 70% of the waste was plastic (as polystyrene is also sometimes considered as plastic). Furthermore of the 26% 'other' items such as paper, cardboard and clothing were also listed. It is, therefore, safe to say that more than 80% of the debris collected during this beach cleanup was recyclable waste.
So the next time you go into a shop and say no to a plastic bag or plastic straw you will be contributing to reducing the number of debris that ends up in the environment. Better yet, insist on alternative recyclables from restaurants and retail stores. Yes, policymakers and waste management are not doing a great job, but your decisive actions can go a long way to change the aesthetic appearance of the city of Durban.
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