Tackling plastic waste in Hout Bay
HOUT BAY residents, organisations, schools and businesses are joining Sentinel Ocean Alliance (SOA) for a clean-up event on International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day this Saturday to clean up not only the beach but the areas that need desperate attention.
SOA is working with other local organisations, including Blue Bay Harbour, Friends of the Disa River, Oceano Reddentes, and Community Cook Up IY, to set up four cleaning stations for ICC Day to reduce plastic waste in different areas in Hout Bay, and is appealing to the public to join in this effort.
Operations director Marguerite Kimberley said the organisation would work in the harbour, on the beach, along Disa River, and on the soccer field.
She said that because SOA was stationed at Hout Bay beach, the organisation often saw the effects of plastic waste because the children in its programmes lived and played in these areas. SOA aimed to set an example of what could be done to address the build-up of waste in these areas.
“One of the biggest contributors is the lack of waste infrastructure in the communities of Hout Bay, particularly in Hangberg around the harbour, and in Imizamo Yethu,” Kimberley said.
Oceano Reddentes founder Jade Bothma said that instead of just hosting one clean-up for ICC Day, the organisation decided to join forces with SOA to get the residents involved and make a bigger impact in the whole of Hout Bay.
Community Cook Up IY director Tjarla Norton said the organisation would assist with the clean-up at the soccer field and skate park because it was a space youngsters used often. It wanted to put pride back into the community playgrounds and other such places through more clean-ups.
SOA founder Frank Solomon said: “It is important to highlight ICC Day, but we also believe that every day should be clean-up day.
“We hope this event will create more awareness of the plastic pollution problem, and that consumers and businesses will try to make more sustainable choices.”
Those who want to get involved can find more information on Instagram @sentinelocean on Facebook @ Sentinelocean, or the website sentineloceanalliance.org