PHOTOS: Plastic and polystyrene waste accumulates on Durban beach

ENVIRONMENTAL groups are once again calling on the City to ban the use of polystyrene and plastic.

This comes after the recent rains in Durban which resulted in large amounts of plastic rubbish being washed up on the shore along Suncoast Beach. 

Polystyrene is mostly used to make disposable takeaway boxes, cups and plates.

It has been proven to be harmful to sea animals when ingested.

Steve Cohen, founder of Durbanites Against Plastic Pollution (DAPP), said the sight of plastic rubbish on the shores of Durban have become a familiar theme.

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“The city is looking at the end of pipe solutions and they do clean ups,” said Cohen.

“But the problem is that a lot of the rubbish gets lost in the sea and cannot be retrieved.”

DAPP has organised a number of beach cleanups throughout Durban. 

Cohen has been trying for years to get the City to address his pleas, however his attempts have proved futile.

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“eThekwini Municipality continues to flout its international commitment to clean seas by refusing to undertake reasonable measures to prevent the frequent discharge of significant volumes of harmful plastic into the sea via its main coastal stormwater outfalls,” said DAPP in a statement.

“Many of these outfalls are via piers and pipers directly into the sea.”

Last year, the city committed to clean up and replace some of its storm water drains following heavy floods that left many Durban beaches submerged with plastic rubbish.  

The Berea Mail has reached out to the eThekwini Municipality for comment, but had not received any response by the time of publication. 

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