In commemoration of World Environment Day and World Ocean Day that was observed last week, more than 60 volunteers rolled up their sleeves over the weekend to help rid Sunset Beach in Milnerton of ocean waste and pollution that has washed up on its coastline.
The initiative, which was spear-headed by Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) was aimed at raising awareness about ocean pollution and the importance of preserving the sensitive wildlife that inhabit the wetlands of nearby Table Bay Nature Reserve. The volunteer group consisted of the CCPB team, local community members as well as members from the Shark Spotters organisation.
While the location lives up to its namesake and boasts breath-taking views of Table Mountain and Robben Island, one of its biggest challenges is the waste that it encounters on its coastlines largely attributed to waste from passing ships and land-based sources such as litter from Cape Town’s stormwater drains and rivers.
According to the City of Cape Town’s latest report on the coastal water quality, the Milnerton area is among 31 polluted sites along Cape Town’s 307km coastline and has failed the minimum water quality guidelines over the last two years.
“Today marks one of many clean-ups we’ve hosted in the Milnerton area to play our part in raising awareness on the issue of pollution and clean up as much as we can while achieving socio-economic benefits and reducing the negative environmental impacts,” said Priscilla Urquhart, Public Affairs and Communications Manager for Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages.
This message is fundamental to The Coca-Cola Company’s “World Without Waste” initiative, which was launched in January 2018 with the goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of the bottles and cans sold by 2030. “As a responsible business, looking after our environment is crucial to our long-term sustainability and speaks to our purpose of making a difference that matters,” adds Urquhart.