Join the Two Oceans Aquarium Trash Bash at the first of our regular beach cleanup events at Lagoon Beach on 21 March 2020. We want to do everything we can to tackle plastic pollution on our coastline and for that, we also need to cleanup our wetlands and other waterways… And we want YOU to join us.

On 21 March, the Trash Bash Cleanup will take place at Lagoon BEach - let's help clean up our environment!

Apart from being good for the environment, cleanups are also good for us humans. Anyone who’s spent a morning with us, taking part in a cleanup, knows that it’s actually a chance to have a ball, to spend time with friends and family, to breathe in some fresh air, and to leave a slightly better, slightly more informed person.

What better way to give back than having fun while doing it?

Photo by Ingrid Sinclair/Two Oceans Aquarium.

Why is it important that we clean up these wetland areas? Not only do wetland ecosystems support a host of animal and plant life - but they are critically important for the survival of humans too, from the mitigation of Climate Change to the protection of human settlements from floods. If we protect wetlands, we also protect our planet and ourselves.

• Date: 21 March 2020
• Time: 09h00 to 11h00
• Location: Lagoon Beach, Milnerton (parking outside Wang Thai Restaurant on Lagoon Beach Drive, near Marine Drive/Boundary Road intersection). Please note, this is not Milnerton Beach (if you are near a lighthouse, you're at the wrong beach)
• What to bring: Sunblock, a hat, water (in a reusable bottle), reusable gloves (like the ones you’d use for gardening or doing dishes), and a smile
• Join the Facebook event

For this Trash Bash we're teaming up with Save a Fishie, an initiative of high school student Zoë Prinsloo who turned a school project into an ongoing mission to keep Lagoon Beach free of plastic junk. 17-year old Zoë is a great example of a young environmental activist, even representing South African young people at the UN Youth Climate Summit, and we're pleased to be able to bring the Trash Bash gees to Lagoon Beach in support of Save a Fishie!

The Dirty Dozen Method

Aside from the obvious perks of doing a cleanup, Trash Bash also contributes to important scientific research by following the Dirty Dozen data collection method.

The Dirty Dozen are the 12 litter items that are most commonly found during cleanups. These are: Carrier bags, chip packets, cigarette lighters, cooldrink bottles, cooldrink lids, earbuds, fishing line, lightsticks, plastic lollipop sticks, straws, sweet wrappers and water bottles.

Photo by Devon Bowen/Two Oceans Aquarium.

Attendees work together in groups and record everything collected, paying specific attention to the Dirty Dozen items. At the end of each cleanup, the data is collated and contributes to research tracking the different sources of marine litter. 

Our oceans are facing a human-made plastic catastrophe. With estimates being that by 2050 there will be more plastic, by weight, than fish in the ocean, the time is now to make a difference and clean up our acts. Studies have shown that millions of seabirds have ingested plastic and a staggering number of sea animals die each year from plastic ingestion. Plastic has truly permeated into the deepest recesses of our natural world and has even entered our food chain. And if you are wondering why it is important for us to clean up a wetland area, have a look here.

Photo by Devon Bowen/Two Oceans Aquarium.

Plastic doesn’t break down; it doesn’t degrade and become part of the natural system again. In fact, plastic breaks up. It breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes small enough, not only for small fish to mistake it for food, but research has found that even plankton is now mistaking this “forever material” for food and consuming it, introducing it into the food chain at the lowest level.

The question now is: What can we do to stop this pollution of our oceans? Considering that 80% of plastic found in the oceans originates on land, the answer is actually quite simple - we can intervene in the cycle of pollution entering the oceans via land, by removing it from the beaches and the wetlands, and preventing it from entering the water in the first place.

Join Bruce the Shark and let's make a Trash Bash difference! Photo by Amina Hoosain/Two Oceans Aquarium.

Trash Bash archive

In the past, the Two Oceans Aquarium has always supported International Coastal Cleanup Day, taking place in September each year. Trash Bash is a campaign by the Two Oceans Aquarium, expanding on our previous cleanup commitments. With your support, we hope to grow attendance of these cleanups and to entrench them as part of Cape Town’s culture.

Take a look at our previous Trash Bashes:

• 1 February 2020 - 210kg of trash collected on World Wetlands Day at Rondevlei Nature Reserve
• 4 December 2019 - Trash Bash wrap up for 2019
• 21 September 2019 - We celebrated International Coastal Cleanup Day at Monwabisi Beach
• 27 July 2019 - At Mouille Point Beach 230 people gathered t collect 166kgs of plastic pollution!
• 8 June 2019 - A quarter ton of waste collected on Hout Bay Beach on World Oceans Day
• 25 May 2019 - More than half a ton of plastic recovered at Monwabisi Beach on Africa Day.
• 23 March 2019 - Take a look at the fun we had at Rondevlei.
• 8 December 2018 – Done! See the results of the year's scientific data collection here.
• 15 September 2018 – Done! Check out the awesomeness! 
• 9 June 2018 – Completed, check out the feedback video!
• 21 March 2018 – Completed, here's the feedback!

If you'd like more information, feel free to get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Don't forget to express your interest on the Trash Bash Facebook event to receive updated information.