As the water sports season draws to a close, it’s worth taking a closer look at your local waters. Rubbish accumulates in the water wherever the wind and currents carry it: under jetties, along the edges of reeds, behind embankments or in areas that fall dry at low tide.
Packaging, plastic film, string and plastic parts can easily end up in the water, where they pose a threat to wildlife and ecosystems. The rubbish that has accumulated over the past few months can often be cleared away with a reasonable amount of effort. Clean-up campaigns demonstrate what many individual people can achieve when they work together.
15 cubic metres of rubbish on Mellum
A recent campaign organised as part of World Cleanup Day on the uninhabited North Sea island of Mellum shows just how much rubbish can accumulate even in remote places. There, 27 volunteers spent a day out and about, collecting around 15 cubic metres of rubbish washed ashore. Among the items found were plastic and glass bottles, old fishing nets and a leather football. The rubbish was then collected and disposed of by a landing craft belonging to the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Conservation (NLWKN).
World Cleanup Day raises the profile of such local initiatives around the world and aims to encourage people to get involved themselves. Anyone wishing to take part in an organised event around 20 September can find dates across Germany on the World Cleanup Day campaign card. You can also register your own fundraising campaigns there.
Collecting: Even small actions help
A large-scale, organised campaign isn’t the only way to get involved. A club group, a crew or even individuals can clear their local area of litter.
Anyone planning their own campaign should:
- Collection area, meeting point and time frame specify.
- Register for the promotion: Register your event on World Cleanup Day so that it appears on the event map.
- Equipment: Take gloves and sturdy bin bags with you; litter pickers make the job easier.
- Safety: Wear high-visibility vests when in the vicinity of roads or harbours.
- Clarify disposal arrangements in advance: Coordinate with the relevant port authority or local authority.
Important safety notice: Particular care must be taken in the water or near the water’s edge. Sharp metal parts, containers with unknown contents or suspicious objects must not be placed in ordinary bin bags; instead, they must be reported immediately to the harbour authority, the local council or the fire service.
Don’t let rubbish get into the water in the first place
For recreational boaters, preventing litter in the natural environment starts on board. A strong gust of wind is enough to blow loose items out of the cockpit or off the bow. A lockable waste bin prevents packaging, cloths or plastic items from going overboard.
Particular attention should be paid to the waste generated whilst carrying out work on the boat. Sanding off antifouling paint produces toxic biocide and microplastic particles. The sanding dust should therefore be collected using a dust extraction system fitted directly to the sander, as well as by placing tarpaulins or fleece underneath, and disposed of properly, rather than being allowed to enter the harbour basin. Paint residues, oil-soaked rags, filters and other consumables should also not be disposed of as normal harbour waste. The disposal options available vary from harbour to harbour. If in doubt, the harbour authorities should be consulted before work begins.
Less packaging on board
Waste can also be avoided when it comes to provisions. If you remove food from unnecessary outer packaging whilst still on shore and dispose of it there straight away, you’ll reduce the volume of waste on board. Reusable containers and returnable boxes can replace further single-use packaging. On longer voyages in particular, it’s also worth sorting rubbish consistently so that recyclable materials can be properly recycled later on shore.
Not just on 20 September
Beyond World Cleanup Day, the real impact is felt in everyday life. It usually takes nothing more than a simple routine: being mindful as you go about your day and picking up litter as soon as you spot it. A small bag in your rucksack or jacket pocket is often all you need for these occasions.
If you look closely, you can see just how much rubbish is left lying on the sides of paths, on beaches and in harbour basins. By picking up litter from time to time, you develop a keen eye for your surroundings, and every piece of rubbish you collect prevents plastic from being washed further into the water.
Book recommendation
Just sail By Wilfried Krusekopf, who asks whether cruising sailors really need the latest technology and the full range of equipment to sail well and safely. Among other things, the book covers waste prevention on board, the use of environmentally friendly materials and extending the lifespan of on-board equipment. A pragmatic look at what really matters when sailing.
Have you planned a clean-up for World Cleanup Day, or do you and your crew prefer to do it independently of the event?
Antonia von Lamezan
Volontärin