PLASTICS bottles were the most common items retrieved within two hours of the Beach Clean-Up Programme organised in conjunction with the 2019 International Coastal Clean-Up Day at Pantai Pelindung, Kuantan, today.

Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) Pahang Branch chairman Noor Jehan Abu Bakar said of the two tonnes of trash, volunteers collected more than 2,000 plastic bottles, followed by 1,680 pieces of plastic and 1,200 pieces of packaging material.

“In addition to these trash items picked along the 5km stretch, the volunteers also gathered some disposable baby diapers, lighters and slippers.

“We analyse the waste items because the types of waste will enable us to learn several things about conveying the importance of cleanliness in protecting the environment to the people,” she told reporters at the programme, in which 50 International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA) students took part.

The programme was organised by MNS in collaboration with Alam Flora and the Semambu Constituency Community Centre.

The International Coastal Clean-Up Day has been carried out nationwide for the past 30 years, with volunteers collecting and documenting waste dumped on Malaysian beaches.

According to Noor Jehan, MNS made it a practice to record the types of waste collected and submit them to the local authorities (PBT) every six months for them to take appropriate action. – Bernama, September 21, 2019.