Rovers to Nature: Coastal Clean-up Project
Besides being a recreational venue, a beach is always associated with uncleanliness due to our habit of not bringing back our wastes with us. At the end of the global COVID-19 pandemic and people returning back to beaches for their recreational activities, we (KLKM UKM) took this opportunity to help our coastal community to ensure that beach visitors will prioritize cleanliness for a safe environment and a healthy life below water.
This project was carried out at Pantai Morib, Banting, Selangor. On the day of service, the main organizing committee divided us into two groups to clean the east and west sides of the beach. We brought cleaning tools such a garbage bags, gloves and rubbish picking sticks with us. I was tasked to clean the east side of the beach together with my group. Our service lasted around two and a half hours, from 9.30 am to 12.00 pm.
We reflected on how our consumption habits have jeopardized our coastal environments. We collected plastic wastes mostly, which in reality would turn into microplastics that will severely impact mangrove environments and the food web in the area. Throughout our cleaning process, many visitors witnessed our service and some even gave a helping hand to collect rubbish that were found near their resting spots.
From this project, we learnt that an unclean environment promotes ecosystem destruction and the spread of infectious diseases. Thus, we made it a priority to organize this event again in the future with participation from the general public.
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