Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
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23 Mar 2017

Litter lingers for much longer than you may think

Holly Konig (South Coast Sun)

 

“Some think that by tossing their wrapper out the window or leaving their plastic bottles and straws at beaches or in parks some magical, awesome power will move them far from where they can cause harm to life and nature.“

Some think that by tossing their wrapper out the window or leaving their plastic bottles and straws at beaches or in parks some magical, awesome power will move them far from where they can cause harm to life and nature.

How very wrong such thoughts are.

Here are some everyday items that find their way into the beautiful ocean, and an indication how long it takes for them to decompose:

Toilet roll ~ one month

Cardboard ~ two months

Cigarette ~ 10 years

Plastic bag ~ 10 to 20 years

Drink cans ~ 200 years

Diapers ~ 450 years

Fish hooks ~ 600 years

Plastic cutlery ~ 100 to 1,000 years

Glass ~ 4,000 years

Some plastics ~ never

 

Let this serve to teach those in the unknowing, that the litter we constantly bombard our planet with lingers for longer than we can imagine.

Keep the environment in mind when buying your groceries and before you carelessly toss the unwanted packaging away.

 

Online Article

Online Article