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The audit report of the 2018 International
Coastal Clean-Up day was recently released
by Plastics SA and the outcome was
devastating. The results showed that broken-
down plastic pieces, foam pieces, cigarette
butts, bottle caps, food wrappers (such as
chip packets and sweet wrappers), glass
pieces, beverage bottles, straws and lolly
sticks continue to be the biggest pollutants
on our country’s beaches.

Cleaning up our coasts

South Africa’s 2,500km coastline was tackled

by 19,563 volunteers who collected 241,

items on Saturday, 15 September 2018. The

clean-up operation didn’t end there and was

extended throughout September when 50,

refuse bags were distributed, and 10,800 pairs

of gloves, 80 plastic buckets and 85 garden

rakes were provided for the clean-up.

“The main cause of litter on our beaches

and in the marine environment is irresponsible

Freak accident

electrocutes several

animals

Several animals were electrocuted in the

Kruger National Park when an Eskom pylon

collapsed during a heavy storm. When Eskom

engineers neared the site to repair the pylon,

they discovered a dead white rhino, giraffe,

lion and two hyenas.

It seems that the predators were killed when

they tried to feed on the giraffe and rhino.

The rhino and giraffe were electrocuted by

an exposed live wire from the toppled pylon.

SOURCE: NEWS24.COM

human behaviour. The improper disposal

of waste and a lack of waste management

infrastructure are the two biggest issues that

need to be addressed and corrected,” says

John Kieser, sustainability manager of Plastics

SA and Western Cape ICC coordinator of

this annual event. He added that the increase

in the amount of disposable diapers found

illegally dumped (especially around informal

settlements) was another area of concern.

Photo: Jackie Wernberg Photography