– September 22, 2019 @ 1:54pm (NST)
KUANTAN: Two tonnes of garbage were collected in just two hours during a beach clean-up programme held in conjunction with International Coastal Clean-up Day 2019 at Pantai Pelindung near here, on Saturday.
Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) Pahang president Noor Jehan Abu Bakar said that among the trash collected were 2,051 plastic bottles; 1,680 pieces of plastic; 1,206 plastic packages; 714 slippers; and more than 500kg of fishing equipment.
She said the event began at 9am and covered a 5km-stretch along Pantai Pelindung, which is located next to the renowned tourist spot of Pantai Teluk Chempedak.
“The programme was organised by MNS, the Semambu state assembly constituency, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan campus, Alam Flora and IIUM Kuantan’s Mahallah Green Club.
“The collected garbage will be analysed for waste separation purposes, according to category. This is to determine the type of trash most disposed of in the area,” she said, adding that the programme was meant to spread awareness on the importance of separating waste, and the impact improper garbage disposal has on the environment.
Noor Jehan said the data will be collected and compiled over a six-month period, before it is submitted to local authorities for the next course of action.
She stressed that it is vital for society to have a sense of responsibility for caring for the environment.
Noor Jehan cited the plight of turtles which are dying from plastic consumption, as they sometimes consume floating plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish.
International Coastal Clean-up Day is the world’s largest volunteer day for protecting the environment. It began more than 30 years ago, and is carried out every third Saturday of September each year.
