Come and join the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Trash Bash team this Saturday, 20 July, at Sunset Beach for a winter beach cleanup.

The recent storm activity thrashing the Western Cape coast has left beaches inundated with pollution from fast-flowing river run-off and ocean swells.

The Two Oceans Aquarium has recognised the need for action, and what better time to act together than in celebration of Mandela Day.

“In the past few weeks, due to one of the infamous Cape storms, we have seen rivers burst their banks, seaside neighbourhoods thrashed by powerful waves, and flooding across the city. As a result, our shoreline has seen an influx of litter scattered across its beaches. Now is the time to engage our Trash Bash community with an important beach cleanup,” said Helen Lockhart, Two Oceans Aquarium Conservation and sustainability Manager.

Event details:

• Date: Saturday, 20 July 2024
• Time: 09h00 to 11h00
• Location: Sunset Beach (Forata Drive) – please park on Forata Drive or in nearby parking lots.

What to bring:

• Weather-appropriate clothing,
• Water (in a reusable bottle),
• Reusable gloves (like the ones you use for gardening or doing dishes),
• Your enthusiasm!

Mandela Day encourages all South Africans, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy, to take one day to make a positive impact on their own communities. The recent Cape storms have been a stark reminder of how people and their environment are so closely connected.

As our communities experienced flooding and damage from strong winds, our beaches have experienced high volumes of pollution. The run-off from overflowing rivers traveling through densely populated neighbourhoods, carries various types of pollution into the oceans and onto our beaches, contributing to the worsening conditions of pollution on our beaches.

The Trash Bash team encourages all Capetonians and visitors to grab your buckets and gloves to join them for some much-needed outside adventure and community connection this Mandela Day. Look out for items, such as plastic bags, bottles, straws, sweet wrappers, and even the microplastics made up of small pieces of broken hard plastic, contributing to the plastic pollution washed up on Cape Town beaches.

“A first defence against plastic pollution in our oceans is to make more conscious decisions around our everyday plastic use. Some easy to implement suggestions are to buy fresh rather than prepacked fruit and vegetables, to pass on the balloons on your up-coming birthday party and opt for alternatives such as flags or bunting, refuse a straw for your drink or a lid for your takeaway coffee, and finally say no to single-use plastic bags,” reminded Heather Wares, Two Oceans Aquarium Communications Manager.

A winter Trash Bash event is a great way to shake off the indoor blues, spend time with friends and family, breathe in the fresh air, and have fun while doing something positive for the environment. All Trash Bashers leave feeling fulfilled, informed, and more proactive.

Released by The Two Oceans Aquarium.