In just two hours, volunteers managed to pick up 160 kg of recyclable waste and 420 kg of general waste on Port Elizabeth beachfront, stretching in between Pollock beach and Shark Rock Pier.

Partnering with local conservation organisation Sustainable Seas Trust (SST), Isuzu Motors South Africa commemorated World Oceans Day by cleaning up these beaches.

According to Isuzu Motors South Africa Corporate Communications Manager Gishma Johnson, they not only supplied the containers but also two Isuzu bakkies which were quickly filled to the brim with waste.

“It was shocking to see the types of waste that our volunteers picked up,” said Johnson.

Isuzu employees and their families formed part of the volunteer group. The company also supplied recycling waste containers to separate waste at the location.

“We took all the waste collected to our waste facility for further sorting and recycling,” said Johnson.

“We regard waste as a resource that is able to create secondary and tertiary employment. Approximately 30 people are based at our facilities from different recycling organisations while many others are employed at recycling companies across the city, creating furniture, plastic goods and polystyrene commodities,” said Johnson.

World Oceans Day was celebrated around the world, with similar clean-up events hosted by a network of partners and organisations across the globe.