Plastic leakage into the environment is today one of the biggest global challenges, leading to pollution, degradation of our ecosystems, and loss of valuable resources to the economy. It is the most marginalised communities living in informal settlements that are most affected daily by plastic pollution. For Safripol together with their partners, this was a challenge they were willing to take on. At the Johanna Road Informal Settlement, located along the lower uMngeni and uMhlangane river catchments in KwaZulu-Natal, the community finds itself with limited access to basic services. Waste leakage into the river is an ongoing problem causing widespread pollution off the related river-catchment area, this then leaking into the ocean.

The main focus of the Litter Boom and Materials Recovery Project is to stop ocean-bound plastics by implementing a litter boom across the river; which is a floating device made of high-density polyethylene pipe to physically trap water-borne litter and divert it towards the riverbanks, and to establish the site as a mini-Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for collection and recovery of waste for recycling and use back into the circular economy.

Safripol showcased an amazing video which was presented at the awards, have a look below: