“Connect + Collect”, the International Coastal Cleanup 2022 Report

The International Coastal Cleanup’s global coordinator, Ocean Conservancy, released the 2022 report entitled “Connect + Collect”. It reports that despite the covid-19 pandemic, more than 300,000 volunteers took to beaches and waterways around the world and submitted data through the Clean Swell app. 

 

Interestingly, a Singapore user of the Clean Swell app is included the map of global ICC locations this year – hooray to whoever you are! There were  611 volunteers whose data was included for Singapore, and these were submitted direct to the global ICC database managed by Ocean Conservancy, since we adopted the direct reporting method (see the 2021 post: “The change to coastal cleanups during the pandemic (and beyond)”.

The Clean Swell app had improved to allow post-cleanup submissions which made it practical, as data cards could be used onsite and consolidated by a group before a single submission. My remaining wishlist for the app (which I remind the OC team every year about) is metric units please!

Contributing to the database is helpful as its adds up globally and become viable for analysis, especially in the rise of research interest into marine plastics. In just 2021 alone, at least 27 peer-reviewed scientific papers by authors from 20 countries were published which used ICC data. 

Read the 2022 global report here.

Top 10 marine trash items collected globally (2015 Ocean Conservancy Report)

In 2014, International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) saw more than 560,000 volunteers remove more than 7,000 tonnes of trash along 20,000km of beaches and inland waterways in 91 countries. The global top ten items collected were single-use plastic items. See the report here.

Our World Water Day Celebration at Sungei Pandan Mangrove!

21 Mar 2015 – 41 participants from all over Singapore came together to commemorate Singapore World Water Day with a Mangrove Cleanup at Sungei Pandan. Covering some 100m along the mangrove, we picked up 42 bags of trash, consisting of 283 kg of trash and 7,785 pieces of trash.

Top of the charts were plastic bags, with 3,719 pieces and second was 1,124 pieces of foam pieces (expanded polystyrene or EPS) which were collected and disposed.

Despite the threat of bad weather and a lost bus driver at the Kent Ridge pick-up point, the cleanup went smoothly and we wrapped up operations before the storm blew in! It was a heartening sight to seeing so many individuals from all around Singapore come together with the shared goal of removing whatever trash we could from the mangrove, inspiring Kai Scene to blog immediately after the cleanup!

Here’s Liz, who has been actively participating in ICCS events for awhile now!

    

Our youngest participant at 6 years old found something to bring home from the mangroves!
This is the “reuse” part of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”

Some of our participants sank deep in the mud
and struggled to remove their wellys after the cleanup!

Sungei Pandan was heavily polluted in the 90’s, and when ICCS began operations in 2008, volunteers removed high loads of accumulated trash, typically collecting over a tonne in 90 minutes. In more recent years, even as plastics and styrofoam continue to be recruited into the habitat, the overall situation has improved tremendously with just a third of a tonne of trash removed in the last two cleanups!

In 2012 you can see how a low load of plastics can still dominate the landscape – Lim Cheng Puay, the ICCS South Zone Captain remembers this well.

Coastal cleanups should not have to be necessary. Our Saturday cleanup reminded us its critical for us to reflect on our day-to-day practices and adopt more sustainable alternatives. Simple things, like questioning whether we truly need that plastic straw in our teh-ping or milo-ping the next time we’re at the coffeeshop or hawker centre – we collected 362 straws and stirrers that Saturday. We use these for a mere 10 minutes, before disposal. With so many, some get into our marine environment to leach plastics and persist for a long time.

Thank you to everyone who came down to fight the good fight, and a big thank you to those who stayed to wash gloves and help with logistics!

Until the next cleanup!

ICCS in Sep 2014: 3,131 volunteers, 64 organisations, 57 coastal sites – so far!

As of now, 64 organisations have registered 3,131 volunteers to collect count, categorise and remove marine trash from 57 coastal sites around Singapore for the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore on or close to Saturday 13th September 2014.

Of the registered Organisations, 41% are from schools (including tertiary), 31% are corporate groups, 20% are NGO or volunteer groups and 8% are government entities.

Thanks for caring for the environment.

Next: our Workshop in July!

See the ICCS Status page for details.

1. Advantest Singapore Pte Ltd
2. Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association Singapore
3. ANZA ACTION
4. Beatty Beaver Scout Group
5. Black & Veatch (SEA) Pte Ltd
6. BP Maritime Services Singapore Pte Ltd
7. Brown University Alumni
8. College of Alice and Peter Tan
9. Compassvale Sec. School
10. Crescent Girls’ School
11. Earthlink NTU
12. Environmental Resources Management
13. FMC Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd
14. HGST Singapore Pte. Ltd.
15. Hougang Secondary School
16. Hypertherm (S) Pte Ltd
17. IPDL IBM SG
18. IRAS
19. Jurong Secondary School
20. Jurong Spring CC Youth Executive Committee
21. Land Transportation Authority
22. Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore
23. Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd
24. MOE, Bedok South Secondary School
25. MOM
26. Nanyang Girls’ High School
27. Nanyang Polyechnic GEO Council
28. National University Of Singapore Environmental Science and Engineering Students’ Club
29. Nature Society (Singapore)
30. Naval Base Secondary School
31. North Vista Secondary School
32. Northland Primary School
33. Northvista Secondary
34. NPS International School
35. NUS BES ENV2101 Class
36. NUS High School of Math and Science
37. NUS USP
38. OFS (overseas family school)
39. Oil Spill Response Limited
40. Oscar & Friends
41. Pacific Refreshments Pte Ltd
42. People’s Association
43. Queensway Secondary School
44. Raffles Girls’ School
45. Raffles Museum Toddycats
46. Red Circle Helpline
47. Renesas
48. Republic Polytechnic
49. SATO Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
50. Sentosa Development Corporate
51. ShinnyoEn Singapore
52. Singapore American School
53. Singapore Pools
54. Spectra Secondary School
55. ST Dynamics
56. Starbucks Coffee Singapore
57. Sukyo Mahikari Singapore
58. Tata Consultancy Services
59. Temasek Polytechnic
60. The Fox Scout Group
61. Waterways Watch Society
62. Wildlife Reserves Singapore
63. Woodlands Ring Secondary School
64. YTL PowerSeraya Pte Ltd

Announcing the International Costal Cleanup 2014 Report by Ocean Conservancy – “Turning the Tide on Trash”

From Ocean Conservancy,

“The Ocean Trash Index presents state-by-state and country-by-country data about ocean trash collected and tallied by volunteers around the world on one day each fall during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup®.

Volunteers have collected data since 1986, and the numbers are used to raise awareness, identify hotspots for debris or unusual trash events, and inform policy solutions.

Cleanups alone can’t solve this pollution problem. Nevertheless, the Ocean Trash Index provides a snapshot of what’s trashing our ocean so we can work to prevent specific items from reaching the water in the first place.”

Click to download “Turning the Tide on Trash, 2014 Report”

More than 1,500kg of trash cleared at Kranji East mangrove – data, blog posts and photo albums from ICCS 2013

The Kranji East mangrove cleanup was a motivating effort with many determined people coming together to do their bit for nature. Almost 150 people responded to the call and cleared more than 1,500kg of trash from this shoreline.

The event generated quite a number of blog posts, which is simply lovely!

• Joelle Lai’s pictorial, Raffles Museum News/Toddycats, 24 Sep 2013
• Toddycat Jocelyne Sze’s busy day! Nature Rambles, 23 Sep 2013
• Clarence the Independent joined us! klairens, 21 Sep 2013
• Toddycat Germaine’s muddy blog! The Living Fossil, 22 Sep 2013.
• Pearlynn’s cigarette lighter reflections! Reflections on Nature, 21 Sep 2013
• Liyana’s fourth coastal cleanup! Caryota Confessionals, 21 Sep 2013

And there are photo albums too:

• Photo Album 1 – link
• Photo Album 2 – link
• Photo Album 3 – link

The ICC 2013 Report has arrived! “Working for Clean Beaches and Clean Water”

The 2012 Ocean Trash Index which is the compilation of data and reports from the 2012 international cleanups is now available.

“The Ocean Trash Index presents state-by-state and country-by-country data about ocean trash collected and tallied by volunteers around the world on one day each fall during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup®.”

You can download a copy of the 2012 results now!

Tracking Trash: 25 Years of Action for the Ocean (ICC Report 2011)

Washington, DC: Ocean Conservancy is releasing today a new report titled “Tracking Trash: 25 Years of Action for the Ocean.” This milestone report compiles data and stories about trash in the ocean, known as marine debris, for every participating state and country, collected from 2010 and as well as 25 years of International Coastal Cleanups—the largest volunteer effort for the ocean.

The report also highlights solutions from individuals to inspire behavior change and from companies to accelerate product innovation.

click to read the pdf

With this report, Ocean Conservancy is expanding its efforts from an annual cleanup day to a year round campaign for “Trash Free Seas”.

“Images of entangled birds, turtles choking on plastic bags and floating trash have become all too familiar,” said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy. “You name it, we have found it on the beach and in the water. We find beach litter like cigarette butts and plastic bags, toilet seats, washing machines, abandoned fishing gear—even the proverbial kitchen sink.”

“For twenty-five years we have watched as trash has threatened ocean wildlife and ecosystems; and undermined tourism and economic activity. We’ve seen more trash to clean up, but we’ve also seen more people inspired to be part of the solution.”

“Our vision is for Trash Free Seas,” said Spruill. “This problem is preventable, and keeping our ocean free from trash is one of the easiest ways we can make the ocean more resilient. From product design to trash disposal, we all have a role to play.”

Highlighted Findings from 2010 Coastal Cleanups

• During the 25th annual Cleanup in 2010, over six hundred thousand (615,407) people removed more than eight million (8,698,572) pounds of trash.
• In 2010, volunteers collected enough tires to outfit almost fifty-five hundred (5,464) cars.
• In 2010 the amount of cigarettes/cigarette butts collected is equal to nearly ninety-five thousand (94,626) packs of cigarettes.
• The eight million pounds of trash collected during the 2010 Cleanup would cover about 170 football fields.

Highlighted Results from the Past 25 Years of Cleanups

• Fifty-three million cigarettes/cigarette filters that have been found would fill 100 Olympic-size swimming pools.
• Appliances collected over 25 years of Cleanups (117,356) would fill 32,600 dump trucks.
• Over 863 thousand (863,135) diapers would be enough to put one on every child born in the UK last year.
• Over the past 25 years, more than eight and a half million (8,763,377) volunteers have removed one hundred and forty-five million (144,606,491) pounds of trash in 152 countries and locations.
• Volunteers have collected enough cups, plates, forks, knives and spoons over 25 years to host a picnic for 2 million people.

Ocean Conservancy is building a new Trash Free Seas Alliance to bring people together to find solutions. Ocean Conservancy welcomes industries, communities and governments to collaborate on innovative ways to secure a future of Trash Free Seas.

Graphics, photos and video for media reports are available at oceanconservancy.org/iccmedia.

Ocean Conservancy releases the 2010 ICC Report, “Trash Travels”: From Our Hands to the Sea, Around the Globe, and Through Time”

Ocean Conservancy Report: Trash in Our Ocean has Become One of the Worst Pollution Problems We Face Threatening Ecosystems, Wildlife, and Coastal Economies
Data collected during the 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup provide the only global snapshot of the marine debris problem; 500,000 volunteers around the world removed 7.4 million pounds of trash from our ocean, lakes and rivers

Washington, DC – Today, Ocean Conservancy releases Trash Travels: From Our Hands to the Sea, Around the Globe, and Through Time – the only global snapshot of the marine debris problem facing wildlife, economies and marine ecosystems. Nearly 500,000 volunteers around the world combed their local beaches and waterways collecting trash and recording the data during the 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup – the largest volunteer effort of its kind. Volunteers removed and recorded 7.4 million pounds of trash in 108 countries and locations, 45 US states and the District of Columbia.

The report features Ocean Conservancy’s annual Marine Debris Index – the world’s only country-by-country, state-by-state analysis of trash in our ocean and waterways. Trash Travels also shines a spotlight on the growing threat of marine debris – one of our greatest global pollution problems.

“Momentum is building. There is a growing understanding of the significant impact trash has on wildlife, the economy and the productivity and resiliency of our ocean,” said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy. “The data generated by hundreds of thousands of dedicated volunteers around the world provide us with a global snapshot of the trash in our ocean, but cleanups alone cannot solve the problem – it’s time to stop marine debris at the source. From design to disposal, we all have a role to play: corporations can reduce packaging, governments can enact strong marine debris policies, and each of us can choose re-usable items, recycle when possible and put trash in its place.”

Click for the 11.6 MB report

Marine debris is one of the most widespread pollution problems we face, with plastics making up approximately three-quarters of all trash floating in the ocean. Birds, fish and other wildlife can easily mistake smaller debris for food, choking the animals, or blocking the digestive system. For instance, sea turtles can easily mistake a plastic bag for a jellyfish with deadly consequences. Whales and dolphins can face a similar fate by ingesting larger items. Ropes, old fishing gear, and other larger debris items can pose an entanglement danger to wildlife, damage sensitive ocean habitats like coral reefs, and interfere with maritime safety and navigation.

“Eliminating the threat of marine debris will help improve the ocean’s resilience. Our ocean is our life-support system, and when we trash our ocean we are trashing our own health and well-being,” concluded Spruill.

The 2009 International Coastal Cleanup, by the numbers:

• Volunteers found 336 marine animals, including 138 birds, entangled in marine debris – 120 of the animals were still alive and released. Fishing line and nets were some of the most dangerous items, trapping over 200 animals.
• Volunteers found 512, 517 cups, plates, forks, knives and spoons – enough to provide a full set of dinnerware to over 100,000 people.
• Volunteers around the world covered 14, 827 miles – more than six times the length of the Mississippi river.
• Volunteers found 58, 881 bottles of oil/lube during the cleanup. This is the amount that would be used to change the oil in nearly 12,000 mid-sized cars.

Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup engages volunteer organizations and individuals to remove trash and debris from the world’s beaches and waterways; to identify the sources of debris; and to change policies and behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place. The 25th International Coastal Cleanup to be held around the world on September 25th, 2010.

Spring cleaning the homes of marine denizens @ Changi Beach 1

50 participants from Northland Primary School, Bioprocessing Technology Institute and Oil Spill Response arrived at Changi Beach Site 1, bright and early on Saturday, 19th September 2009. Rainclouds had started gathering but the gloomy sky did not dampen spirits as volunteers merrily chattered. And a short briefing got the merry crew ready for a “spring cleaning”!

As we began, a family of four at the beach observed us and decided to join in! They were kitted out with extra gloves from Oil Spill Response and a data card and that lowered the youngest age of our group to only three and a half years old!

Our youngest Captain Planet at work in saving the Earth! See how meticulous she is!

Andrew Tay, a veteran Site Buddy with the ICCS came once more to guide Northland Primary in their cleanup. As they worked on Changi beach, he filled them in on the status of marine trash in Singapore and how it affects the marine environment and marine life. The students were asking questions throughout and enjoyed Andrew’s stories!

"May I ask you a question??"

Even though everyone was enjoying themselves from the fulfilling work, it began drizzling an hour into the cleanup and most then headed for the shelter and totalling up of numbers began.

Although the cleanup stopped short of the usual 90 mins due to rain, a considerable amount of trash was collected. The weight came up to 68 kg of trash and the most common items were cigarette butts and styrofoam pieces. We found a few odd things too – a tattered and thin mattress, some golf balls and a few table tennis balls.

Many participants felt that this had been an eye-opening experience. They were taken aback about the amount of trash they had encountered on a seemingly clean beach!

The trash that lies out there is innumerable and it is an impossible task to eliminate it all with a single cleanup. This exercise was primarily a data-gathering exercise and the effort was an important one in understanding the source of the problem.

There was also that sense of satisfaction when leaving Changi Beach that their efforts had Changi Beach a better place for our marine creatures to live in.