Food containers and coffee cups dominate Carbon Smart Beach Clean-Up

09 April 2026

In recognition of Global Recycling Day, which is observed annually on 18 March, the City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management Branch hosted a collaborative beach clean-up in Hout Bay on Friday, 27 March 2026. The initiative brought together key partners that include Plastics SA, Shark Spotters and City departments such as Solid Waste Management and Coastal Management. Approximately 20 bags of waste were collected during the clean-up, with convenience food containers and disposable coffee cups among the most commonly found items.

‘I would like to thank all participants who contributed to the Hout Bay Carbon Smart Beach clean-up. Pollution, particularly plastic waste, poses a serious threat to our marine and coastal environments. On the day, City staff and involved stakeholders combined hands-on clean-up efforts with focused education. Teams, supported by Solid Waste Management officials, collected and sorted waste using bags provided by Plastics SA, while a dedicated group targeted microplastics embedded in the sand,’ said Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment.

Following the clean-up, collected waste was sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable streams using separation bags provided by the Solid Waste Department. This process reinforced the importance of separation at source and improved participants’ understanding of what can be recycled.

Environmental education was a key component of the event. Shark Spotters delivered an engaging session on the impact of microplastics on marine life and ocean ecosystems, highlighting the direct link between environmental pollution and human wellbeing.

‘One of the most noticeable items collected during the clean-up were convenience food containers and disposable coffee cups. Notably, very few plastic bottles were found. This is likely because these are among the most commonly recycled items and are often collected by informal waste pickers. It is also important to recognise that the beach is cleaned twice daily by the Hout Bay Solid Waste depot, reflecting the ongoing commitment to maintaining and rehabilitating the natural environment.’

The Carbon Smart Beach Clean-Up was hosted by the City of Cape Town’s Carbon Smart Skills Development Programme. The Carbon Smart Skills Development Programme is an initiative designed to integrate sustainable, green construction practices with community empowerment. Driven by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the Carbon Smart Academy aims to employ members of vulnerable communities and educate them through structured tutelage over a three-year period.

For more information on the Carbon Smart Project, please contact the NC: Special Projects Unit via email: Admin.carbonsmart@capetown.gov.za

‘One of the main themes was the bioaccumulation of plastics in aquatic environments. In simple terms, small items like wrappers left on the beach break down over time, are eaten by marine life and move up the food chain. Eventually ending up on our plates. The message is simple: it is up to each and every one of us to make a difference. Even the smallest piece of litter matters,’ said Alderman Andrews.

The upcoming beach clean-ups are as follows:

• Clean C Beach Clean-Up | Taking place on Friday, 17 April 2026 at Muizenberg Beach. Participants can meet at the circle opposite Tiger’s Milk Restaurant between 09:00 and 11:00. For more information, please WhatsApp Greg on 082 873 1962.
• Junior River Warden Programme Beach Clean-Up | This is their first beach clean-up, which will be held on 30 May 2026 at Sunrise Beach, from 09:00 to 11:00. To find out more or to participate/spectate, email: admin.riverwardens@capetown.gov.za
• Two Oceans Trash Bash | Scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2026 at Monwabisi Beach, as part of Mandela Day activities. The event will run from 09:00 to 11:00.

For further details, email aquarium@aquarium.co.za  or call 021 418 3823.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office