KwaZulu-Natal’s sensitive coastal ecosystems came under the spotlight in September, when Petco joined provincial authorities and communities for activities around International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day.

In Kosi Bay, in the build-up to the clean-up, Petco partnered with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs to host a waste management and environmental awareness session at Emasakeni Primary School in Manguzi (KwaNgwanase).

Here, learners and teachers explored practical ways to reduce litter, separate recyclable materials and prevent waste from reaching rivers, wetlands and ultimately the ocean.

The session highlighted the connection between everyday waste choices and the health of our coastal environments, while encouraging learners to take these messages home and into their communities.

For the main ICC event, more than 1,000 learners, volunteers, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife honorary officers and other stakeholders came together to clean and care for one of the province’s most sensitive mangrove ecosystems.

The clean-up took place at Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve at the Umgeni River mouth, in Durban North.

Hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and led by Deputy Minister Narend Singh, the day was a fantastic example of collective action. For Petco, however, the lesson we aimed to leave with communities was that responsible waste management and recycling are still the most reliable ways to move beyond clean-ups to prevention of pollution in the first place.

Keeping recyclable materials out of our waterways and ensuring they are properly recovered is an important part of building a more circular economy while protecting the ecosystems that communities, wildlife and future generations depend on.