Passionate about keeping the community clean and preserving the natural beauty of the Bluff area was what motivated schoolboy Waylon Murray to lead a team of volunteers to collect 50 bags of litter from the beaches.

Waylon’s team, dubbed the Bluff Tidy Team, is just one of the volunteer groups that picked up litter from the beach sands along Durban’s coastline following torrential rainfall this week.

Waylon, 16, and in Grade 10, said that litter has a significant impact on the environment, wildlife, and human health. Murray was concerned about the harm to marine life, contamination of the food chain, and even the local economy.

For instance, he said that plastic waste can break down into microplastics, which can be ingested by humans through seafood consumption, posing health risks.

“During our recent clean-up event, we collected approximately 50 large bags of litter, weighing around 200kg. The types of litter collected included food wrappers, straws, plastic bottle caps, takeaway containers, and other plastic waste,” he said.

Waylon said that while volunteers made significant progress in clearing the beaches and parks of debris and dirt, there was still more work to be done.

“Our team will continue to organise regular clean-up events to maintain the cleanliness of the area and protect the environment. While it can be physically demanding and emotionally challenging to witness the extent of pollution, we're motivated by the positive impact we are making and the sense of community that comes with working together towards a common goal,” he added.

Denise Ann Mc Creadie, the coordinator of Clean Blue Lagoon, said the amount of rubbish and litter that came down the river was a huge job to clean up, and every little bit collected helps the overall picture. Her team will be holding a clean-up of the Beachwood Mangroves on Saturday, March 15.

“If you can't attend but still want to be an eco-warrior and save the ocean, then we can arrange for an unemployed person to attend on your behalf. All you need to do is to Zap us some wage money, and we will set it up for you,” Mc Creadie said.

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Youth-led volunteers collect 200kg of litter from storm-ravaged Durban beaches