Sustainable Seas Trust is a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that supports and connects communities across Africa through research, education, enterprise development and growing awareness about ocean conservation and plastic pollution. We also build networks for sharing information and support focused on waste management. Through our events such as the 2020 Second International Conference of the African Marine Waste Network and projects, we are bringing like-minded and passionate people together, locally and internationally, to manage the issues of plastic waste in Africa.
The theme of the 2020 conference – Towards Zero Plastics to the Seas of Africa – indicates a drive to stop plastics and other waste on land, at source, from finding its way to the seas. This also means cleaning up the plastics that are already in the environment. The underlying philosophy is that if plastics are not in the natural environment, they cannot be blown or washed into the seas.
Africa has some of the most exquisite, biodiverse and marine-rich coastlines in the world. We need to protect them. Waste-focused studies predict that by 2050 there will be more plastic littering Africa and entering its seas than any other continent. This vast pollution, combined with habitat destruction and over-fishing, stands to collapse the ocean’s ecosystems. That is not only a threat to our environment/ oceans, but also to us humans. In addition, addressing poverty and human health are fundamental in the fight against marine pollution. Healthy communities lead to a healthy environment.
Stakeholder mapping
Stakeholders can support mapping waste and recycling locations & waste organisations and projects in South Africa. Link to interactive maps and forms
International Waste Platform 