Inside the Litterboom Project's River Cleanup Mission with Jihaad Jacobs
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Jihaad Jacobs, Operations Manager for the Litterboom Project in Cape Town chats to Brad, and he focuses on their innovative approach to combating ocean pollution by intercepting waste in rivers before it reaches the sea.
Jacobs reveals that in the first nine months of the year alone, the project has successfully removed a staggering 275,000 kilograms of waste from Cape Town's rivers, primarily using a system of floating "booms" that trap debris. The conversation covers the harsh reality of what is found—from plastic bottles and recyclables to larger items like beds, couches, and even animal carcasses.
A key part of their strategy is a three-pronged approach: interception (using the booms), innovation (recycling collected plastic into new products like combs and plant stakes), and education (visiting schools and communities to teach about waste management and the dangers of illegal dumping). Jacobs emphasizes that while cleanup is vital, the ultimate goal is a change in public behavior upstream to stop waste from entering the waterways in the first place.
Jacobs reveals that in the first nine months of the year alone, the project has successfully removed a staggering 275,000 kilograms of waste from Cape Town's rivers, primarily using a system of floating "booms" that trap debris. The conversation covers the harsh reality of what is found—from plastic bottles and recyclables to larger items like beds, couches, and even animal carcasses.
A key part of their strategy is a three-pronged approach: interception (using the booms), innovation (recycling collected plastic into new products like combs and plant stakes), and education (visiting schools and communities to teach about waste management and the dangers of illegal dumping). Jacobs emphasizes that while cleanup is vital, the ultimate goal is a change in public behavior upstream to stop waste from entering the waterways in the first place.
