In recognition of International Coastal Cleanup Day, marine experts from the CSIR’s Coastal Systems and Earth Observation research group rolled up their sleeves for a local cleanup at Blue Lagoon beach in Durban on Friday, 19 September 2025. The popular recreational spot, frequented by birdwatchers, fishermen and nature lovers, became the focus of the team’s efforts to highlight and reduce marine litter.

“Not only did we start our cleanup a day earlier, but we also organised our own independent effort,” explains senior researcher Aadila Omarjee.

The team collected various types of litter and waste. “The items we gathered came as no surprise. Sifting through the sands, we picked up polystyrene containers, plastic bottles, food wrappers, bottle caps, cigarette butts, plastic straws and lollipop sticks - the kinds of everyday waste that are often discarded and eventually wash up on our beaches,” Omarjee adds.

She emphasises that reducing single-use plastics, reusing durable items, supporting recycling systems and repurposing materials can significantly reduce the flow of waste into the ocean. “Stormwater and rivers carry discarded items to the sea, where they break down from macroplastics to mesoplastics and eventually microplastics. All can harm marine life, and microplastics are now a global concern.”

CSIR Research Group Leader Steven Weerts notes that while South Africa’s recent ban on plastic microbeads in cosmetics and other products is a positive step, it must be matched by broader changes. “We need to look at our own consumption habits, but also hold producers, brand owners and importers accountable for the design, use and end-of-life of products that often end up as litter. At the same time, ensuring effective waste management services - including collection and safe disposal – is a low-hanging fruit in preventing plastic pollution in our coastal and marine environments.”

After the cleanup, the collected litter was returned to the CSIR’s Durban campus, where recyclable and non-recyclable items were sorted and disposed of responsibly.

The event was both a practical intervention and a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility in protecting South Africa’s coasts. “We hope you’ll join us at our next cleanup,” says Weerts, “But we look forward to a future where they’re no longer necessary.”