PREPARATIONS are well underway for this year’s International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day on Saturday, September 19.

Held annually on the third Saturday of September, the event has been hosted internationally since 1986.

According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the initiative worldwide remains the largest volunteer environmental data-gathering effort and clean-up event of coastal and underwater areas to date.

Also read: Local resident helps raise funds for conservation

One of the clean-ups is set to take place at the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve beach where efforts last year saw more than 1.5 tons of rubbish removed from the beach and uMngeni River mouth.

Mahendra Sookha, a North Durban Honorary Officer, is part of a group of volunteers who supports conservation and education efforts at the reserve

“We’ve always had great support from the community and this year we have officials from KZN Wildlife, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), various school groups and volunteers. The ICC clean-up also sees volunteers gather environmental data on the types of litter they find on the beach. All the waste will be collected, weighed and sorted for data purposes.

“All people need to bring is themselves. Gloves and bags will be provided. It’s best to wear closed shoes (preferably) and a hat. The North Durban Honorary Officers helped organise this clean-up and have done so for the past 25 years,” he said.

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