The Litterboom Project recently received a global accolade, the Defender Award, for its work in preventing plastic pollution from entering waterways and oceans, .

In celebration of the win, an exclusive experience of the project at Beachwood and Mangroves beaches provided first-hand information on how plastic waste is collected from the water bodies, until being repurposed into useful everyday products.

The Litterboom Project won in the Defenders of the Sea category. It captured the attention of the judges for how it protects ocean and marine life by deploying teams to manage plastic barriers (known as Litterbooms) in the Mangroves, and Tongaat, Umhlanga, Umgeni, Umlazi and Umbilo rivers. By installing these barriers, an estimated five tonnes of waste per month is stopped from reaching the ocean and harming fish, birds and other marine wildlife.

Apart from a £100,000 (about R2.196m) bursary and mentoring support, Defender will also help the teams access remote and overlooked river systems to identify new suitable sites for protection.

The Litterboom Project CEO, Cameron Service, was beyond himself with the win. “It has been quite an exciting and challenging journey. Winning the Defender of the Seas is not just about the award, but the reward is far greater. As much as we were surprised to win, it made us reflect on the work that we do. We appreciate those who have gone before us, The Holgate Foundation. It is phenomenal what we have achieved since 2017, and we are encouraged, and optimistic to embrace the future,” said Service.

Mark Cameron, Defender Brand Director, said, “Selecting our winners from an incredible shortlist of 56 global projects was tough but we believe those chosen best reflect the conservation and humanitarian heroes around the world that are embracing the impossible every day. We can’t wait to see the impact that the Defender Awards will have on these inspiring projects in taking them to the next level.”

The Litterboom Projects looks forward to engaging with wider communities to educate and offer solutions on challenges they face around plastic waste and preservation of environment. Equally so, they are emboldened by the ongoing engagements they are involved in with policy makers, working on strategic, data-based partnerships.

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