Keeping Dolphin Coast beaches clean

Not even ominous dark clouds and the threat of a downpour could stop North Coasters from protecting their beaches on Saturday.

Volunteers from Zinkwazi to Zimbali took part in the annual international beach clean up day, organised in KZN by KZN Ezemvelo.

The Blythdale team collected more than 1,5 tons of rubbish was collected over six kilometres – including cans, clothing, condoms, a fishing knife and disposable nappies.

At Blythedale Beach, teachers, pupils, parents and their children rolled up their sleeves and got busy on the shore, picking up litter.

Dolphin Coast Landfill Management sponsored R20 000 towards the Blythedale clean up, which was assisted by NGO ukuPhakamisa and Sappi Stanger.

Inclement weather also affected the turnout at Salt Rock. Ezimvelo Officer Lionell van Schoor said 100kg of rubbish was picked up in 30 bags, from Umhlali river mouth to Zimbali beach. Plastic wrappers and empty food packaging made up the majority of the rubbish in this area.

At Salt Rock the Environmental Affairs department came on board for the first time, bringing in a group of children to participate in this community based conservation project.

All the rubbish will be sorted and noted on a data card that is to be analysed with the view to come up with a long term solution for beach pollution. The international beach clean-up day originated in the United States of America in an effort to improve beach conservation on a global scale.