Two Oceans Aquarium is celebrating World Cleanup Day with a Sunrise Beach Cleanup. You are invited to be part of the Two Oceans Aquarium Trash Bash and Visions for Change SA beach cleanup teams. It’s time to do your bit for the ocean!
The Conservation & Sustainability Manager for the Two Oceans Aquarium, Helen Lockhart, says, “Beach cleanups are vital as they prevent plastic and other trash from being deposited into the ocean and beyond our shores.”
Two Oceans Aquarium celebrates World Cleanup Day with Sunrise Beach Cleanup
Communications Manager, Heather Wares, says the Aquarium is dedicating its World Cleanup Day activity this year to the legendary ocean advocate Sylvia Earl to celebrate her 90th birthday.
She says, “This is your chance to follow her example and unite with individuals and organisations around the world, who are grabbing their gloves and buckets with the mission of cleaning up plastic from our beaches.”
World Cleanup Day
Wares says World Cleanup Day was an initiative which was started in 2008 in Estonia. It was to create awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution to ocean health. She says this inspired a global movement with a belief that one can make a difference in one day. Wares has encouraged those who are looking to take action to take part in the Sunrise Beach Trash Bash.
Trash Bash – You can also win
She says those taking part should stay until the end as they stand a chance to win incredible prizes at their on-site lucky draw! There will be prizes from the Two Oceans Aquarium and its partners on the day.
Event details:
- Date: Saturday, 20 September 2025
- Time: 09h00 to 11h00
- Location: Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg, (Just off Sunrise Circle)
- What to bring:
- -> Weather-appropriate clothing
- -> water (in a reusable bottle)
- ->reusable gloves (like the ones you use for gardening or doing dishes)
- -> a bucket and your enthusiasm.
Lockhart elaborated, “Cleaning a beach is one of many easy and fun ways of contributing to our responsibility for ensuring a healthy natural environment. At the same time, we provide data for scientific studies.”
An opportunity to connect with Nature
Lockhart added that the fight for a healthy ocean reaches beyond a single Trash Bash event. She says it’s a daily endeavour that they encourage their ocean-loving community to take on. Lockhart emphasised that a first defence against plastic pollution in our oceans is to make more conscious decisions around our everyday plastic use.
“It is also an opportunity to connect with nature,” added Lockhart.
She says some easy-to-implement suggestions are to buy fresh rather than prepackaged fruit and vegetables. Consider passing on the balloons at your upcoming birthday party. Also, opt for alternatives such as flags or bunting. You can also refuse a straw for your drink or a lid for your takeaway coffee. Finally, you can say no to single-use plastic bags.
