Amanzimtoti role players combat marine pollution

In a combined effort to protect our ocean, a KZN Marine pollution management (KZNMPM) meeting was recently facilitated at the Pipeline Aquatic Centre in Amanzimtoti.

“While there is a mandate to seek solutions for the South Coast, a decision was reached whereby initial focus will be directed towards four areas that were identified during a recent baseline study conducted by SA Health, funded through SASOL. These areas include Isipingo and Umbogintwini, Toti and Kingsburgh, uMlazi and Folweni, and Illovo Beach and Kingsburgh,” said Andre Beetge, who is the media spokesperson for the pollution committee.

“Short-term objectives include beach clean-up operations during weekends and public holidays, while medium terms goals will focus on selecting the area that can yield maximum positive results on implementing pilot projects. This would ultimately ensure the long-term objectives of reducing the current 230 litter hotspots within the baseline study area to zero.”

READ ALSO: SCT continues on its quest to beautify Amanzimtoti

The committee believes this can only be achieved through:

1. Community awareness and participation.

2. Establishing buyback centres.

3. Identification of main pollution contributors into the uMlazi canal and Umbogintwini River.

4. Seeking to ensure that recycling becomes more lucrative as opposed to costing more than it’s worth.

5. Identification of local collection points to facilitate demographics and reduce distances, while ensuring that it meets legislation.

6. Reducing the cost of dumping that currently contaminates recyclables at landfill site.

7. Continued focus on clean beaches and ocean as a departure point.

8. Identification of end markets for all packaging materials.

9. Closer cooperation with local government to ensure that existing garden refuse sites such as School and Nyati roads are more accommodating to accept recyables (no cost drop-off, but not buy back).

10. Assistance from local authorities on the placing of skips and collections from beaches to collection sites (against the backdrop of a Unimog and litter rake that is soon set to arrive).

11. Educating communities from beach to source on the impact of litter on the environment.

12. Attaining Blue Flag status at all beaches, which will contribute towards making the area more appealling, thus creating more jobs and economic stability.

READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti’s Ilanda Wilds to receive some attention

“The reality of the matter is that we can continue to point a finger towards government to take action, or we can collectively decide to actually make a meaningful difference. As much as some might be of the opinion that it is not their problem, we only have one earth to live on and should that fail, there really is nowhere else to go. Don’t wait until it’s too late, join us now and make a difference to the future.”

For more information or to join in the fight against pollution, call Clean Surf Project’s Denzil van der Westhuizen on 082-802-3353, Sapphire Coast Tourism’s Romy Wenzel on 083-733-6468 or Cllr Andre Beetge on 082-718-8137.

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