Jerudong beach clean-up: 872kg waste in two hours

A STAGGERING 872kg of waste was collected in two hours at the Jerudong beach during a cleaning campaign yesterday.

Non-profit organisation The Beach Bunch gathered 148 volunteers from Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College, Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd, Brunei Shell Ladies, Brunei Adventure Recreation Association (Bara), Brunei LNG (BLNG) and residents of Kampung Jerudong in the beach clean-up.

The waste was segregated into different categories for records and possible recycling; including 730kg of general waste, 140kg of plastic bottles, and 2kg of aluminium.

Sherlly Tanara, treasurer for The Beach Bunch, said the NGO was trying to create awareness about the importance of protecting the environment.

She said that it was encouraging to see the younger generation helping out and asking questions such as what were recyclables.

"It’s good to see them inquisitive and caring about the environment. She hopes that when people see it as a norm to see a clean beach, they will help to keep it clean on their own initiative.

"It feels good that we are doing something for Mother Nature," said 17-year-old Richard Carson, a Maktab Duli student  involved in the beach clean-up.

Another student, Sherbini Husaini, 17, said: "I’m happy to know the beach is safer for people and animals, because even broken glass was found on the beach."

"Taking part in the clean-up was tiring but after seeing all the trash, I feel grateful that much of it was collected, said 17-year-old Nadia Suhaili, another Maktab Duli student.

Tang Siang Thai, a 19-year-old Maktab Duli student, said that there was a big difference before and after the clean-up. "I hope we do this often so that the beach can remain clean."

Another Maktab Duli students, Muhd Ashyiq Masri, 16, said that it felt "liberating" to help clean the beach.

There were 110 Maktab Duli student involved in the cleaning campaign, while the remaining 38 volunteers were from the private companies, associations and the  public.

The Beach Bunch was established last year with a mission to protect the beaches of Brunei from pollution. The group orchestrated a series of cleaning campaigns around beaches in Brunei-Muara District earlier last year.

The Brunei Times