Oceans and Coasts

26 March 2019

Marine Litter Management in South Africa: A source to Sea approach

What are we dealing with?

May 2016 – Cuttings Beach

March 2019 – Durban North Beach

March 2019 – Ohlanga River

International commitments• UNEA 3 (3rd United Nations Environment Assembly

meeting) - In December 2017 – Resolution adoption on Marine litter and Single use plastics – calls for a source to sea approach and increasing activities around prevention of marine litter and microplastics

• UNEA 4 – In March 2019 – 3 Resolutions that deal with marine litter, single use plastics and land-based sources of marine pollution adopted.

• Calling for increased GLOBAL commitments and governance for marine litter, management of single use plastics as well as preventing pollution to the marine environment from land-based activities

UN’s Clean Seas Campaign• In December 2017, at the margins of the 3rd United

Nations Environment Assembly South Africa endorsed the UN’s Clean Seas Campaign, which exists as a platform for governments to engage the general public, civil society and the private sector to find solutions to the plastic litter challenge. The Campaign also seeks to dramatically reduce the production and consumption of non-recoverable and single-use plastic.

International Union for the Conservation of NatureNiarobi Convention• SA is participating in the Western Indian Ocean Strategic

Action Programme (WIO-SAP) on land-based sources of marine pollution, under the Nairobi Convention for the protection, management and development of the Marine and Coastal and Environment of the Western Indian Ocean Region.

• Under this initiative, South Africa has flagged marine litter as a priority source category of marine pollution to be addressed.

• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has also recently announced the commencement of a new initiative called the “Marine Plastics and Coastal Communities (MARPLASTICCS) project”, to be implemented within the region under the ambit of the Nairobi Convention

Plastics Material Flow and End of Life Management Study

- Study showed that Currently less than 25% of plastics is recycled in the country, and this rate can be improved. What happens to the remaining 75% of plastics? What can be done?

- South Africa is conducting a review of the impact and effectiveness of the implementation of plastic bag policies. The study will assess the gaps in terms of current implementation of the plastic bag levy, identify possible areas of improvement and new options, including a possible ban on single use plastic bags.

Government initiatives on waste reductionThe DEA also set aside priorities for waste management in the country by undertaking the following initiatives: • Amended of policy to introduce Environmental Levies

(Tyres & Plastic Bags) • Review Industry Waste Management Plans• Review of the National Waste Management Strategy

(NWMS)• Support to Local government to deliver on Waste

Services• Collaboration with NGOS, communities and civil society• Embark on work on the National Waste Pricing strategy

to provide a framework for the implementation of economic instruments in the SA waste sector

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Private initiatives

• Plastics SA - industry initiatives & best practice, clean ups, product reformulation, education and awareness, post use and recycling & research solutions

• The Cosmetics and Fragrance Association of South Africa (CTFA) is considering product reformulation and phase out of microbeads.

PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES

International Union for the Conservation of NatureCoastal Cleaning - to support litter removal and remediation action- Working for the Coast Programme (Extended

Public Works Project)- Public, NGOs, CBOs- Private sector- PlasticsSA

March 2019

Rivers and canals are a conduit to marine litter

DEA’s Source To Sea Initiative

Source to Sea Project: Priority areas• The following river systems in

KwaZulu Natal were identified as a priority needing waste management interventions – Umgeni River into Blue Lagoon/

Durban North Beach– Umlazi River into Cuttings Beach– uMbilo River (into the Durban Bay)– uMhlatuzana River (into the Durban

Bay) and – aManzimnyama River (into the

Durban Bay)

The Pilot Project (2ys)

Overall objective- tackling land-based litter in hot spot communities

located near rivers and waterways.- will scale up litter collection, promote community

involvement in waste sorting at source and recycling in cooperation with the private sector.

- National Rollout to other catchments/hotspots- This initiative will seek to respond directly to the

internal calls for marine litter interventions, by tackling waste and litter at source.

The Pilot Project - OBJECTIVES1. Upscale efforts to recover waste 2. Deploy resources to recover litter from the identified priority

rivers (litter interception devices/litter booms)3. Engage with stakeholders and partners and obtain

commitment 4. Increase educational activities and awareness raising

campaigns5. Monitor and evaluate (characterise) the types and quantities of

litter entering the rivers6. Host quarterly authority meetings to monitor the

implementation of the pilot project 7. Host one science to policy workshop or a Theory of Change

workshop during the pilot project + Microplastics monitoring8. Co-ordinate meetings to discuss job creation opportunities

from waste collection

Source to Sea Project: linkages-. - National Coastal Management Programme

- The Presidential Good Green DeedsProgramme (launched on 8 March 2019) isaimed to change people’s attitudes andbehaviour towards waste and its management,as well as to begin taking charge andresponsibility of keeping their neighbourhoodclean.

- AMWN- IUCN

What’s coming – expand this project to address SUPs

The resolution (2019), in summary, calls for the member states to: • Step up actions to reduce problematic single use plastic products (address the

waste legislation, implementation of international agreements, provision of adequate waste management infrastructure, improvement of waste management practices and support for waste minimization, and environmentally sound clean-up activities, as well as information sharing, supporting innovation)

• engage with industry to encourage the private sector to innovate and find affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic and promote the more resource-efficient design, production, use and sound management of plastics;

• Promote and enhance cooperation in scientific research and sound technology for alternatives to the single use plastic products

• promote more sustainable lifestyles for their citizens through the reduction of single-use plastics, adopting environmental education actions and sustainable practices, including by choosing to reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle and remove plastics and promoting local government regulatory and other efforts to tackle plastic pollution.

DEA: Oceans and CoastsDirectorate: Coastal Pollution

ManagementTel. +27 21 819 2409/2450

Email: Nbpillay@environment.gov.za or Ypeterson@environment.gov.za

THANK YOU