International Coastal

Cleanup Singapore
(ICCS)
 Content
Page
Part I. What is it all about?
Part II. Why is it more than cleanup?
Part III. What to prepare as an
organiser?
Part IIII. How does it go?
 Part I. What is it all
about?
 An annual international event coordinated
by The Ocean Conservancy.

 The world's largest one-day volunteer

effort BUT it is not a one-day affair!

 Involving some 400 000 people in 70-100

countries who gather to clean up trash at
beaches, lakes, oceans and mangroves all over
the world.
What is it all about?

 In Singapore, it is coordinated by the Raffles

Museum of Biodiversity Research of the
National University of Singapore and the
Nature Society since 1991.

 Each year some 2,000 volunteers collect

90,000 -100,000 pieces of trash weighing
between 7-10 tons from our beaches and
mangroves.
Are we just trash
collectors?
It is more than
Part II. Why is it more than
cleanup? The gathered trash
is categorised and
counted!

Our consolidated
national data is sent
to the Ocean
Conservancy (USA)
for analysis.

This snapshot of the

global trash problem
is used in
representation at the
United Nations.
 The Ocean Conservancy
discovers sources of marine debris
develops effective pollution control
strategies
educates the public, business,
industry, and government officials about
the problem
So what is the significance?
Save Marine Life and protect water bodies!

"Turtles choked with marin

University of
Queensland
News Online, 12
Jul 2006
Is this data really used ?????

For Public Education

International
Action Efforts
"Here's
Ocean the dirt on
Conservancy S'pore's
Hosts beaches."
International
National
By
The
Radha
Straits
Y
Environment
Basu.
Times,
Agency's launch of
Conference Focusing on Global Impact of
"Why waste plastic bags,
05 Dec
Marine Debris on Our Ocean and
choose
2005.
Wildlife
reusable
108,000
May
-based
bags"
ES!
campaign
pieces of litter, up from
30, 2007
90,000
onlast year,consolidated
the data hauled by
collected in at annual
from
ICCS ICC
beach cleanup.
volunteers

We provide results and analysis to:

SEC, ENV, NParks, PUB, URA, MND, MOE,
MITA, The Internet
 For
Part III. What to prepare organisers

as an organiser?

1.Recce of Cleanup Site

2.Participants
3.Logistics
4.Transportation
5.Data Collection
 For
organisers

1. Recce of the cleanup site

The RECCE is a very important step

before cleanup as an understanding
of the up to date situation of any
site is critical to a safe and
meaningful cleanup.
 For
organisers
Know your Zone/Site Well

e.g. Map of Sungei Buloh Cleanup Site - who goes

where?
 For
organisers
Know your Zone/Site Well
 For
organisers
What is the trash load like?
 For
organisers
Where is the Trash Weighing/Collection Point?

The Trash Collection Point(s) should be located at a

convenient and appropriate distance from the cleanup site.
More trash collection points can be set up to facilitate the
removal of trash from the site to the final Trash Disposal
Point.
 For
organisers
How long to get there?

Some sites may be far away from the bus’ drop off
point. Ensure you factor in the time taken to walk to the
site after the morning briefing. It will also affect your
 For
organisers
Where is the nearest rain shelter &
hospital?
Organisers should identify potential
rain shelters or set up a tent at the
base point if none are available.
Ensure your Safety Officer and Safety
Driver know the location of the nearest
hospital.
They must also be able to give clear
directions to emergency vehicles in
case of an emergency.
 For
organisers
2.
Participants
Number of participants are
determined by the trash load of a
particular site and its ability to
accommodate participants.
 For
organisers
Safety
Briefing!
Avoid unnecessary injury!
Reinforce the safety briefing during the
bus ride down to the site or upon arrival.
 For
organisers

3. Logistics

Get your supplies in order before the

cleanup!
 For
Step 1. Organise your name organisers

lists
 E.g. 40 participants = 10 teams
 1 team = 1 Data recorder + 3 Trash
Collectors
 1 Group leader (safety and mgmt)
 1 Data Manager
 1 Weighing/Loading leader (ref. recce)
 1 Photographer
Step 2. Prepare enough data
cards
 For
organisers
• Gloves
Step 3. Get your supplies
• Tough Trash
Bags
• Weighing scale
• First-aid kit
 For
organisers
Gloves Are Important!
• Protects hands
from very dirty or
oil-soaked items

• BUT, gloves do not

provide protection
from sharp items
e.g. needles

• So, be careful
when picking up
items!
 For
organisers
At the beach, plastic bags can to
help in the cleanup, so bring some
from home!
 For
organisers
4.
Transportation

When you arrange for

transportation, factor in the time
needed to drive to the site and
plan accordingly.
 For
organisers
5. Data
Collection
At the end of the cleanup, collect
consolidate the data on all the cards into
one card.
Organise data card holders into groups
of three and get them to add their
numbers up. Mark the used cards and
carry on until one card represents the
entire site’s data!
Submit that to the Zone Captain or Data
Manager. We post results (and photos) to
the ICCS webpage the same day!
Trash Classification
KNOW YOUR TRASH!
Shoreline and Recreational
activities
 Shoreline and Recreational
activities
BAGS
• Small bags e.g. grocery, trash and food
bags
 Shoreline and Recreational
activities
• Beverage Bottles (plastic), Beverage
Cans
 Shoreline and Recreational
activities
• Straws, Caps / Lids, Food Wrappers
 Shoreline and Recreational
activities

• Clothing / Cloth
 All forms of
clothing – shirts,
pants, socks,
underwear,
gloves, hats,
shoes, etc
Shoreline and Recreational
activities
 Shoreline and Recreational
activities
• Cups / Plates / Forks / Knives /
Spoons
 Shoreline and Recreational
activities
• Fast Food Containers
 Wrapping & packaging materials from
foods, including snack foods, candy & fast
food
Ocean/Waterway activities
 Ocean/Waterway activities
• Bait Containers / Packing
 Includes any bait boxes, bait bags or bait
cups used to hold bait.
Ocean/Waterway activities
 Ocean/Waterway activities

• Fishing
Nets
Ocean/Waterway activities

• Rope
Smoking-related activities
 Smoking-related activities

• Cigarette Lighters
 Smoking-related activities

• Cigarette
Packaging
Dumping activities
 Dumping Activities
• Tires
 Dumping Activities
• Appliances (fridge, washers, etc)
Medical/Personal Hygiene
Debris items of Local Concern
Debris items of Local Concern

• Styrofoam
pieces
Debris items of Local Concern

• Rubber
Bands
Debris items of Local Concern

• Mattresses
On the day of Cleanup
WHAT HAPPENS?
 Pre-Cleanup Briefing for
Participants

ark attendance

reak out into groups

ssign Team Leader,

Data Recorders, etc

nsure sufficient
data cards and
 Safety Briefing (1)

• Keep away from any oil drums found

• Beware of broken glass, fishing hooks,

syringes and other sharp objects
• Always use gloves to pick up things
 Safety Briefing (2)

• Do not open any bottles found, they

may contain poison
• Take care of your back! Have
someone to help you carry heavy
trash bags together
 Safety Briefing (3)

• Avoid bushy areas as there may be

hornet nests
• When there is lighting and thunder,
stop work immediately and seek
shelter
• Drink enough water to prevent
dehydration or heat stroke
Walk to the designated sites in
teams!
 Team works
• Collecting, categorizing and
recording trash
 Categorize & Record Data
Carefully!
• Data collected might
be used to influence
legislation on marine
laws
• In Singapore, ICCS
data has influenced
anti-smoking laws,
and fueled the
littering and plastic
bag debate.
• Your data is
Weigh the trash bags!
Bring Trash to Trash Collection
Point
Trash at Trash Collection Point must
be transported to a final pre-
arranged
Trash Disposal Point
that a trash disposal company
will subsequently handle.
 Ensure all data recorded on Data
Card
• Note down:
– Total weight
– Total number of
trash bags
– Total area
covered
(approximate
and check with
site coordinator,
if unsure)
 Consolidate Data
• Every three cards are counted
into one NEW card if neccessary
(so bring extra)
• Continue until there is only one
card per SITE
• Which site are you in? Clearly
indicate on the card
• Do you know the total number of
people working on the card?
• The total distance/area covered?
• It’s IMPORTANT!
Consolidate Data & Report to Data
Manager on the same day
Consolidated data will be
uploaded on to the ICCS website
on the same day!

http://coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg/resu
lts
Leaving the site

IS EVERYONE WITH YOU?

Thank you for helping
the marine ecosystem!

Together, we’ll make a

difference.

ICC Singapore, 16
years of battling
marine trash!