Partners: IUCN– 2 months
These cases highlight the many efforts in the Coastal communities to beat the marine Plastics Pollution. We have documented CEJAD (Centre for Environmental Justice and Development) active in Kwale and Mombasa county and their efforts to integrate the value chain in sustainable solid waste management. The Beach cooperative with their tracking methodology ‘Dirty Dozen’ to track the 12 types of plastics commonly found at beaches. The Litterboom project in Durbans most popular river mouths, South Africa, with their innovation to place an arm in the water and catch the plastics (and creating jobs in the collection and recycling of the plastics caught).
The Wildtrust program with their endless efforts to prevent leakage and reduce plastics waste in Durban by waste trapping and upcycling. The Watamu Marine Association active in the community of Watamu and beyond . they have linked the community (and created jobs) to the Tourism sector with collection, clean ups, recycling and upcycling projects. There work is very successful and the next step is to expand the project to Malindi and Kilifi, targeting a population of more than 400,000 people along a 70 km stretch of coastline. All hard plastic waste is machine crushed at Eco-World Recycling in Watamu. The facility is operated by the project and it also acts as waste management training and education centre.
As part of the IUCN Marplasticcs (Marine Plastics and Coastal Communities) project, we have documented five case studies that demonstrate significant strides in reducing, avoiding, and collecting plastic waste in the marine streams along the coastal areas of East and Southern Africa. These case studies, accessible on the Panorama platform, exemplify the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in combating marine plastic pollution.
These case studies shed light on the diverse initiatives undertaken by coastal communities to tackle marine plastic pollution head-on. One notable example is CEJAD (Centre for Environmental Justice and Development), operating in Kwale and Mombasa counties, which has spearheaded efforts to integrate the value chain in sustainable solid waste management. Additionally, the Beach Cooperative has developed a unique tracking methodology called the ‘Dirty Dozen’ to monitor the 12 most common types of plastics found on beaches. In Durban, South Africa, the Litterboom project has innovatively placed arms in the city’s most popular river mouths to capture plastics, thereby creating employment opportunities in plastic collection and recycling. Meanwhile, the Wildtrust program in Durban tirelessly works to prevent plastic leakage and reduce waste through waste trapping and upcycling initiatives. Lastly, the Watamu Marine Association, active in the community of Watamu and beyond, has successfully linked the community to the tourism sector through collection, clean-up, recycling, and upcycling projects. The association’s exemplary work has prompted plans for expansion to Malindi and Kilifi, targeting a population of over 400,000 people along a 70-kilometer stretch of coastline. Notably, all hard plastic waste collected is machine crushed at Eco-World Recycling in Watamu, which not only serves as a waste management facility but also provides training and education on waste management practices.
Through these case studies, we witness tangible impacts on coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and the broader environment. From the integration of value chains in waste management to the creation of employment opportunities and the prevention of plastic leakage, each initiative contributes significantly to the reduction of marine plastic pollution and the promotion of sustainable practices along East and Southern Africa’s coastlines.
