Ocean conservation takes centre stage

THE Ballito Pro, presented by O’Neill, is set to make waves - in more ways than one — this year as ocean conservation takes a central stage through an innovative recycling and education campaign spearheaded by Litter4Tokens.

- STAFF REPORTER

From June 30 to July 9, the 10-day surfing event will not only showcase some of the world’s top surfers, but will also engage spectators in a robust initiative aimed at environmental responsibility. This effort is supported by major sponsors, including Petco, the President Stimulus Fund, and Brownie Points.

At the heart of this initiative is a dedicated recycling station positioned at the Lifesaving Hut on Ballito Beach. Litter4Tokens will manage a comprehensive waste collection process, where materials gathered from branded bins set up within contest areas will be sorted, weighed, and documented using the innovative Litter-hub app. With more than 20 collectors roving the event site daily, spectators will have their recyclables efficiently removed and diverted from landfills.

Organisers say that last year’s campaign yielded impressive results, with a staggering 694 bags of recyclable material collected, equating to over 1157kg in weight. While the figures highlight the need for continued environmental vigilance, they also expose a grim reality: approximately 472 kg of waste still ended up in landfills. However, 3.56 kg of nurdles — tiny plastic pellets notorious for environmental damage — were successfully extracted from the beach. All collected materials will be carefully logged using the Litterhub app, ensuring transparent data collection and allowing for real-time reporting on waste management efforts.