Gqeberha, South Africa - The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, in collaboration with Environmental Affairs and Tourism, recently hosted the International Coastal Cleanup event at Wells Estate Beach, formerly known as St. Georges Strand. This impactful initiative brought together several organizations, including The Waste Trade Company, Packa-Ching Mobile Recycling Unit, Sustainable Seas Trust, The Giving Them Wings Foundation, SANCOB, and the Mandela Bay Development, along with enthusiastic participation from local schools, such as Motherwell, Coselelani, Motherwell High, and Mfesane High School.
 
Held on Saturday, September 16, 2023, amidst winds reaching up to 40 kilometres per hour, this event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of clean oceans and maintaining blue flag beach status to attract tourists to our shores. Councilor Bassie Kamana, the Mayoral Committee Member for the Department of Sports, Arts, Recreation, and Culture, delivered a compelling address to the schools, emphasizing the significance of our coastal environment.
 
The heart of the event lay in a cleanup competition among the participating schools, guided by representatives from the attending organizations. A two-bag system was employed to distinguish recyclable waste from general waste. Siya Ntsumpa from the Giving Them Wings Foundation and Miss Emmy Nxayeka provided valuable demonstrations on waste categorization.
 
Recognition was given to the top-performing schools, with gardening tools awarded to encourage their eco-conscious efforts. Coselelani High School secured first place by collecting an impressive 150.64 kilograms of recyclable waste and 27.75 kilograms of general waste. Mfesane High School claimed second place, gathering 89.25 kilograms of recyclables and 7.47 kilograms of general waste. In third place was Motherwell High School, contributing 73.5 kilograms of recyclable waste and 1.4 kilograms of general waste.
 
All participating schools were celebrated as winners, receiving delightful goodie bags and t-shirts from Pick n Pay, along with Aquelle flavoured water. Linda Donkrag, the event organizer from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, emphasized the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to raise awareness about the environment, marine life, and recycling. She expressed her hope that the students gained valuable insights and might consider pursuing careers in these fields to safeguard our environment for future generations.
 
The event also unearthed interesting items during the cleanup, including discarded shoes, fluorescent tubes, glass, and e-waste. Here is a breakdown of recycling and waste statistics for the event:
 
•             Glass: 180 kilograms
•             Cardboard: 2.5 kilograms
•             LDPE Plastic: 4.5 kilograms
•             PET Clear: 4 kilograms
•             HDPE: 1.5 kilograms
•             E-Waste: 0.10 kilograms
•             General Waste: 34 kilograms
•             Aluminum Cans: 0.5 kilograms
 
The International Coastal Cleanup 2023 at Wells Estate Beach was a resounding success, showcasing the power of collaboration and environmental stewardship. We commend the dedication of the schools, organizations, and individuals who came together to make our coastal environment cleaner and more sustainable.
 
For media inquiries, please contact: Emmy Nxayeka +27 84 028 5734
The Waste Trade Company
www.thewastetradecompany.co.za