KZN uncovers a load of rubbish

WHAT would you think the following items have in common? A food mixer, two electric irons, a bra and lawn mower, chess set and a camera?
All were found during the KZN(KwaZulu Natal) 2000 International Coastal Cleanup which - a resounding success - saw some 45 tonnes of litter (223 924 items) being collected by 4 893 members of the public covering 527,5 km of the provincial coastline, reports KZN Wildlife.
This year, cleaning operations were hampered by poor weather which resulted in a low turnout of volunteers in some areas and which prevented a clean-up of Durban's Vetch's and North Pier areas by scuba divers.
Sixty-six scuba divers, however, undertook a clean-up of the famous Two-mile Reef at Sodwana Bay, and collected ten items of litter from amongst the corals and seaweeds at depths ranging from eight to 25 metres. All 223 924 separate items of litter collected were categorised, made up of the following: Plastic 55%; plastic foam 13%; metal 11%, paper 9%, glass 8%, rubber 2%, wood and cloth 1% each.
"This annual clean-up of our coast demonstrates that the public of KZN are deeply committed to a clean beach environment," said Martin Schofield, (KZN Wildlife) Regional Head: Coast.
"We are really pleased with the results and particularly pleased with the fact that this event has moved further inland, becoming an effective National Cleanup."
The 2000 KZN Beach Cleanup was sponsored by Toyota, East Rand Plastics, Richards Bay Minerals, Vodacom and SAPPI.

(Elizabeth Sheridan)