Help buddies tidy up South Beach

Green Buddies Environmental Club and Pick 'n Pay have teamed up to host a series of three clean-ups along Durban beachfront. The next clean-up is scheduled for June 1 at South Beach, with the last clean-up on September 21 at Blue Lagoon.

Learners from Avoca Primary School loved getting their hands dirty at last year’s clean-up on South Beach. Photo: Candyce Pillay

GREEN Buddies Environmental Club, in partnership with Pick ’n Pay Planet, have organised yet another exciting beach clean-up along the shores of South Beach. This will be the second of their three scheduled beach clean-ups for the year.

Having run successful clean-ups in 2023, the partnership between the Green Buddies Environmental Club and Pick ’n Pay Planet has extended into 2024 to raise environmental awareness and have a greater impact in KZN.

The first clean-up at Cuttings Beach was a resounding success with 85 bags of waste collected. The First Royal Scouts joined in and helped out by cleaning in between rocks and washed-up seaweed.

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“Ocean pollution is a never-ending global problem. We should anticipate the deposition of plastic waste and debris on our beaches and act upon it before it gets out of control,” said Ashlin Ellan of Green Buddies.

This clean-up on World Reef Day will take place at South Beach on June 1 from 08:30 until midday.

This includes litter collection and an educational talk on ocean conservation provided by PnP Schools as well as Green Buddies and other partners. This beach was chosen because of the environmental damage being caused by the amount of litter and pollution in the area due to the high amount of foot traffic by beachgoers.

The third clean-up takes place on World Zero Emissions Day, September 21, at Blue Lagoon.

“The aim of these clean-ups is to educate our communities and youth of the detrimental impact pollution has on our environment, the food we eat, the animals we care for and the quality of our day-to-day lives. It is also to help shape and influence young minds into the ‘recycle, reuse and reduce’ mindset,” said Selisha Singh, Green Buddies PRO.

Satika Naidoo of Pick ’n Pay hands over vouchers to Ashlin Ellan, chairperson of Green Buddies Environmental Club, at last year’s clean-up on South Beach. Photo: Candyce Pillay

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Pick ’n Pay Planet and Pick ’n Pay School Club provide exciting interactive educational sessions at each of these clean-ups.

Should any corporates, schools or individual volunteers be interested in getting involved with these events or in joining the Green Buddies Environmental Club officially, contact chairperson Ashlin Ellan on 079 025 5291.

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