Liesbeek River Cleanup

On Saturday, 4 March, the Environmental Portfolio, joined by girls from Boys and Girls Town, hosted a river cleanup of the Liesbeek River from 09:30 until 11:00.

We started our day by splitting up our group of 19, half focusing on cleaning a section of the river bank and the other half on the river itself. Though most of what we collected were microplastics, there were a few odd finds – a car exhaust pipe, for instance.

This first half of the cleanup enabled our students to connect with the girls from Boy and Girls Town, as we could chat as we shared the plastic bin bags amongst ourselves.

After cleaning those areas, we moved on, collecting waste from the pathway alongside the river. We found a lot, particularly around sitting areas, with bins frustratingly nearby for those stopping to eat and admire the river.

It was disheartening to see that people weren’t treating this gorgeous area with the respect it deserves, but the enthusiasm and genuine care that our group showed while cleaning more than made up for it. Everyone collected as much waste as possible, some even going the extra mile and gently sifting through the vegetation to make sure there wasn’t anything we missed.

By the end of the day, we not only collected a sizable amount of plastic, but we’d had fun and met new people in the process.

This river cleanup was a definite success, and we’d like to thank everyone who made it possible by attending. It shows just how rewarding making a difference is – and all it took was a few hours.

– By Danielle