Reported by Teo Yi Ting Joy
Key takeaways
- Increased awareness of marine plastic pollution:
Volunteers gained firsthand experience of the severity of marine plastic pollution by seeing the amount of trash collected from a single beach cleanup. This tangible experience highlighted the seriousness of the issue, beyond what can be learned online.
- Active participation in reducing marine plastic pollution:
The beach cleanup provided a platform for volunteers to actively contribute to environmental conservation. Through teamwork, they removed a significant amount of trash from the beach, preventing it from being washed back into the ocean and causing further pollution.
- Understanding the impacts of marine plastic pollution:
After collecting and sorting the trash, the organizer gave a brief speech on the severe impacts of plastic pollution and microplastics on both humans and the entire ecosystem. This educational component deepened volunteers’ understanding of the issue.
Main highlights
Date: 28 December 2024
Location: Punggol Beach
Organizer: SG Beach Warriors
Participants: Hwa Chong Institution, Yishun Innova Junior College, Raffles Institution, Catholic Junior College, the public and members of SG Beach Warriors
No. of participants: 51
Total weight of trash collected: 972.3kg
Activities implemented
As illustrated in the figures above, 51 volunteers worked together to remove 972.3 kg of trash from the beach before it could be washed back into the ocean. The collected items included 1009 plastic containers, 195 straws, 73 cigarette-related items, 44 glass products, 163 metal products such as drink cans, 50 footwear items, and many other varieties of trash.
Evaluation
This beach cleanup provided volunteers with a firsthand experience of the vast amount of trash that can accumulate on a single beach. Many first-time volunteers expressed shock and disapproval upon seeing the piled-up trash, highlighting the effectiveness of such cleanups in raising awareness. This experience showed that, in addition to online education, beach cleanups are highly effective in visually demonstrating the impact of marine plastic pollution.
Beach cleanups significantly influence public perception of marine plastic pollution, especially after participants actively contribute to reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment. The success of this event suggests that more beach cleanups, combined with online education, could further enhance public awareness and engagement in environmental conservation efforts.
