The Effectiveness of Coastal Clean-up in reducing litter pollution on shores of Barangay

Dos, Katipunan Zamboanga del Norte

INTRODUCTION

Coastal clean-up is when people gather together on bodies of water like beaches and
collect all the garbage. The marine environment, which covers more than 70% of the Earth's
surface, is vulnerable to a variety of anthropogenic threats. Human-made trash found in the
ocean and along coastlines that has an impact on ecosystems and marine life is referred to as
marine anthropogenic debris (Poeta, et al., 2016). Plastic makes up between 60 and 90 percent of
the marine trash floating in our ocean, with an estimated weight of 270.000 tons (Garcia-
Vazquez, et al., 2018). Plastic has raised concerns around the world due to its longevity and
resistance, as it kills 100,000 marine animals and 1,000,000 sea birds each year due to
entanglement or ingestion (UN Environment, 2018b).

The ongoing degradation of the environment as a result of an insurmountable volume of

garbage has presented policymakers with a significant challenge, both locally and globally. They
have devised various interventions and methods to address this issue. Information drive, adoption
of alternative practises, and e-code implementation are just a few examples. Despite these
efforts, there are still underlying problems unanswered and uncontrolled. The presence of
garbage of various compositions in coastal areas indicates that the garbage management
campaign has not yet been fully successful.

Various studies have been conducted on coastal clean-up and coastal management
programs. In the research of Wyles, Pahl, Holland & Thompson, they cited that coastal visits not
only provide psychological benefits but can also contribute to the accumulation of rubbish.
Volunteer beach cleans help address this issue, but may only have limited, local impact.
Consequently, it is important to study any broader benefits associated with beach cleans. This
article examines the well-being and educational value of beach cleans, as well as their impacts on
individuals’ behavioral intentions.

Plastic pollution has harmed thousands of marine animals worldwide, including sea
turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. As a result, beach clean-ups are critical to mitigating the
problem of ocean debris and the threat that plastic pollution poses to marine life.
OBJECTIVES

This study aims to emphasize the importance of coastal areas for both people and marine
species. This study also aims to educate people in Barangay Dos, Katipunan Zamboanga del
Norte, on how to care for the shore and the importance of the shore. Additionally, this study will
provide information on how effective it is to maintain the cleanliness of the coastline.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Marine plastic pollution has become a sustainability problem. It poses a threat to

biodiversity and the planet’s ecosystems, being responsible for the death of one million seabirds
and hundred thousand marine animals each year (UN, 2017). Today, there is a definite consensus
that the current flow of plastics needs to stop (WEF, 2016). But despite a number of initiatives,
such as The Ocean Cleanup (2019) and the international Coastal Clean-up by the Ocean
Conservancy (2019), a definitive solution for removing plastic from the ocean has not been
found yet (Worm, et al., 2017). In the meantime, all the different stake holders need to be
involved in raising awareness and reducing plastic consumption (Ellen MacArthur Foundation,
2016; Löhr, et al., 2017): from governments, which can implement laws, bans and recycling
incentives, to industries, which can reduce the amount of plastic used in their packaging, to
citizens and NGOs, which can organize beach clean-ups and campaigns to influence the
behaviour of individual citizens and consumers (UN Environment, 2018a).

Various studies have been conducted on coastal clean-up and coastal management
programs. Perez & Cabrera conducted a study on the impact of coastal clean-up to beneficiaries
and proponents (2013). The beneficiaries perceived the program design as highly effective in
developing an agenda on participatory coastal management, conserving the environment and has
the potential to lessen the risks of acquiring diseases while less effective in providing
opportunities for extra income. On the assessment of the proponents, the program is highly
effective in promoting sanitation and cleanliness and in ensuring safe and sure delivery of service
with its aim of conserving the environment while less effective in providing opportunities for
extra income. The beneficiaries strongly agreed that they understood the results the drive could
bring upon them and that they have learned the part or role they have to do in this problem. The
program provided them the skill of recycling their own garbage thus, urged them to become
more disciplined. On the part of the proponents, they strongly agreed that they gained better
understanding about the law and policy about coastal environment preservation and understood
the results the drive could bring upon them. Further, the program gave way to empower
themselves to create beautification projects for the community and made them realize they have
to set good examples for others.

Various studies have been conducted on coastal clean-up and coastal management
programs. In the research of Wyles, Pahl, Holland & Thompson, they cited that coastal visits not
only provide psychological benefits but can also contribute to the accumulation of rubbish.
Volunteer beach cleans help address this issue, but may only have limited, local impact.
Consequently, it is important to study any broader benefits associated with beach cleans. This
article examines the well-being and educational value of beach cleans, as well as their impacts on
individuals’ behavioral intentions.

Beaches, according to Makabongwe Vuketwele (2021), are an essential part of human

life. The goal of beach cleanup is to provide more than just a beautiful sand shoreline for
residents and visitors. Although a clean and sanitary beach is essential, removing litter from the
shoreline benefits the ocean ecosystem. The beach ecosystem supports a diverse range of marine
life, but most of it is invisible to the naked eye because it is small or buried in the sand. These
organisms play an important role in the ocean by supplying nutrients and making the ecosystem
healthier.

Plastic pollution has harmed thousands of marine animals worldwide, including sea
turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. As a result, beach clean-ups are critical to mitigating the
problem of ocean debris and the threat that plastic pollution poses to marine life.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will teach different people in the community how important it is to keep our
coastal area clean because marine debris that has been exposed to the sun degrades and releases
chemicals into the ocean that can harm marine life and our health. People will be educated on the
importance of mitigating the problem caused by ocean debris and the danger that plastic
pollution poses to marine life. This research could benefit both people (who live in Barangay
Dos, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte) and marine species.\

HYPOTHESIS
H1. There is a significance between cleaning coastal areas in preventing ocean water
pollution

H2. There is no significant relationship between

SOLUTION

The following are potential solutions to the problem of "The Effectiveness of Coastal
Clean-up in Reducing Litter Pollution on the Shores of Barangay Dos, Katipunan Zamboanga del
Norte."

1. Reduce Your Use of Single-Use Plastics.

2. Do not throw garbages into coastlines because it will go to the ocean

3. Do a beach clean-up if you live by the coast or remove plastic near your homes.

4.The local government should be strict in enforcing the environmental laws .

4 The people must be deciplined in proper waste disposal and well educated in the
environmental problems and solutions.

CONCLUSION

As what i have observed, there are still garbages specialy plastics in the seashore of Barangay
dos, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte; it means that there are still people (not all) who are not
well disciplined and doesn't care for nature.

RECOMMENDATION

I do recommend that the local government must be strict in enforcing the environmental laws
and should have environmental awareness programs so that the people will be educated and
well disciplined interms of proper waste disposable. The good health of mother nature is for
our own good, we must respect it before it's too late.

APPENDIX

REFFERENCE