Durban’s beaches have become littered with harmfully high levels of plastic waste, but a dedicated group of young people are fighting back with weekly clean-ups. 

What is the problem?

eThekwini is known for beautiful beaches, warm waters, and vibrant marine life, attractions that draw thousands of tourists each year and support the coastal economy. However, the city is increasingly grappling with serious pollution challenges. 

Litter and illegal dumping contribute to a growing volume of waste in rivers, estuaries, and the sea. Much of this waste, particularly plastic, accumulates on the shoreline or gets swept out into the ocean, where it poses a deadly threat to marine life. Turtles, seabirds, and fish often mistake floating litter for food, leading to internal injuries and sometimes death. Over time, plastic breaks down into tiny fragments known as microplastics, which contaminate the water and persist in the environment for decades.

Polluted beaches also impact tourism, discourage investment, and endanger the health of beachgoers. 

How are they fixing it?

Waylon Murray, a high schooler and Durban resident, was troubled by the waste he saw littered on his local beaches and decided to take action: “I wanted to go above and beyond,” he said. At the start of 2024, at the age of 15, he started a clean-up group, the Buff Tidy Team. 

Every Saturday morning, a group of volunteers head out to pick up litter along the Bluff, in the south of Durban. Each week, they pick up up to 50 bags of litter, and since starting at the beginning of 2024, have removed tonnes of waste from local beaches. 

What makes it work?  

• Intergenerational action - Many of the volunteers who pick up litter with the Bluff Tidy Team are teenagers and kids. Through the group, they have formed a community that inspires each other to take action to keep their beaches cleaner. Older residents, like those from Malibongwe Senior Citizens Centre, also volunteer to support the young people’s actions. 

• Keeping it consistent - The Bluff Tidy Team meets every Saturday at the same time, making it easy for volunteers to join regularly. Volunteers bring their own bags and gloves, making the clean-ups easier to organise.

• Collaborations - Working together with organisations like WESSA (Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa), Greenpeace and local Community Policing Forums in some of the Bluff Tidy Team’s clean-ups helps to reach more volunteers and make a bigger impact. 

• Education - Through the clean-ups, volunteers are encouraged to engage with their neighbours to discourage them from littering and speak with them about the negative impact of waste on the environment. 

• Social media - Through a Facebook group, the Bluff Tidy Team advertises their weekly clean-ups, reaching a committed audience of volunteers. They also use their page to celebrate achievements, keep their supporters motivated and spread awareness on marine and environmental issues.

Acknowledgements

Source article: Youth drive cleanup along eThekwini beach by Anna Kalafatis

https://sjuhawknews.com/34579/showcase/youth-drive-cleanup-along-durban-beach/

Photo: Zach Podolnick