The uMhlanga Rocks UIP and Sibaya Conservancy Trust management team was tasked by the UPL Multi Stakeholder Forum at a meeting held on the 12 October to facilitate a planning session with operational stakeholders to agree on a plan for the clean-up of dry waste along the Ohlanga River Estuary and beach within the exclusion zone. Once finalised, the plan and associated costings were to be submitted to UPL representatives for consideration of support to fund the financial component of the project.
On 19 October, the operational planning session took place, and an agreement was reached for a one-month clean-up operation comprising 18 municipal support staff, vehicles, and the necessary PPE equipment. I am very happy to report back that UPL has kindly agreed to support the project and fund this much-needed clean-up.
The project kicked off on Tuesday the 22 November and over 3 days a total of 570 black refuse bags and 280kgs of recycling have been removed. A very big thanks are extended to The Litterboom Project, Adopt a River, and Green Corridors for their great deal of advice and support during the planning process and provision of manpower to conduct the clean-up. Also, to eThekwini municipality’s Parks Department for providing vehicles and crew to uplift bagged refuse for disposal, EDETEA, and EZEMVELO for granting approval for access to the exclusion zone.
From the 22nd to 28th November 2022, a total of 1330 black refuse bags of waste has been removed and 920 kgs of plastic has been collected for recycling from the Ohlanga Estuary
In closing, we would like to thank UPL for funding the clean-up and all involved in supporting this vital project.
