Abstract
Globally there has been increased concerns over the state of ocean pollution which often become evident after extreme hydro-meteorological events such as floods. Chief among the concerns is the deposition of solid waste into harbours, beaches and estuaries by floods. A thought on harbours and beaches takes one to the blue (ocean) economy space, a subject that is embedded in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14. The Durban Harbour is one of Africa’s most prominent and busiest ports handling cargo for South Africa and several southern African countries. In addition, its beaches rank among the world’s best. Using events study, document analysis, secondary data and in-depth interviews, the chapter aims to determine how the April 2019 floods revealed the challenges in the waste management systems in Durban, South Africa, and how the concerned stakeholders, among them government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations, responded to the challenge. The results showed that extreme floods caused a significant challenge at the Durban Harbour, along beaches and estuaries as plastic waste mainly comprising shopping bags heavily polluted these places. Heavy plastic pollution is a clear symptom of poor waste management in the upper catchment areas. In as much as various stakeholders have put forward some innovative solutions to the problem, these are largely inadequate because of the complexity of the problem. There is a need for the municipality and stakeholders to increase their efforts towards implementing environmental law enforcement to ensure the protection of the oceans and blue ocean economy. The problem requires a multi-dimension approach such as mass education, environmental law enforcement and capital resource investment into coastal cleaning among other such initiatives.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Algalita. (2011). Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from http://www.algalita.org
Andrady, A. L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 1596–1605.
Ardé, G. (2019). Durban floods: Profiting from plastic. New Frame. Retrieved April 20, 2020, from https://www.newframe.com/durban-floods-profiting-from-plastic/
Ayalon, O., Goldrath, T., Rosenthal, G., & Gossman, M. (2009). Reduction of plastic carrier bag use: An analysis of alternatives in Israel. Waste Management, 29, 2025–2032.
Baxter, J. (2019). Durban’s Plastic Pollution Makes World Headlines (Whilst Voted Greenest City in the World). SA People. Retrieved April 20, 2020, from https://www.sapeople.com/2019/12/19/watch-durbans-plastic-pollution-makes-world-headlines-whilst-voted-greenest-city-in-the-world/
Bakir, A., Rowland, S., & Thompson, R. (2014). Enhanced desorption of persistent organic pollutants from microplastics under simulated physiological conditions. Environmental Pollution, 185, 16–23.
Barnes, D. K., Walters, A., & Gonçalves, L. (2010). Macroplastics at sea around Antarctica. Marine environmental research, 70(2), 250–252.
Brink, P., Lutchman, I., Bassi, S., Speck, S., Sheavly, S., Register, K., & Woolaway, C. (2009). Guidelines on the use of market-based instruments to address the problem of marine litter. Brussels, Belgium/Virginia Beach: Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)/Sheavely Consultants.
Browne, M. A., Crump, P., Niven, S. J., Teuten, E., Tonkin, A., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2011). Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines worldwide: Sources and sinks. Environmental Science and Technology, 45, 9175–9179.
Caboz, J. (2019). Shocking footage caught tons of plastic crashing in the waves off Durban following heavy rains, Business Insider SA. Retrieved April 20, 2020, from https://www.businessinsider.co.za/tags/topics/durbantons-of-plastic-churns-through-waves-on-south-african-beach/
Claessens, M., Meester, S. D., Landuyt, L. V., Clerck, K. D., & Janssen, C. R. (2011). Occurrence and distribution of microplastics inmarine sediments along the Belgian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 2199–2204.
Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Halsband, C., & Galloway, T. S. (2011). Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(12), 2588–2597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.09.025.
Danielsson, M. (2017). The plastic bag ban in Rwanda: Local procedures and successful outcomes. A case study on how Rwanda implemented a nation-wide ban on plastic bags. MSc Thesis, Uppsala University.
de Freytas-Tamura, K. (2017). Public shaming and even prison for plastic bag use in Rwanda. Retrieved November, 2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/28/world/africa/rwanda-plastic-bags-banned.html
Derraik, J. G. B. (2002). The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44(2002), 842–852. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00220-5.
Dikgang, J., Leiman, A., & Visser, M. (2012). Analysis of the plastic-bag levy in South Africa. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 66, 59–65.
Dube, K., Nhamo, G., & Chikodzi, D. (2021). Rising sea level and its implications on coastal tourism development in Cape Town, South Africa. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 33, 100346.
Dube, K., Nhamo, G., & Mearns, K. (2020). Beyond’s response to the twin challenges of pollution and climate change in the context of SDGs. In G. Nhamo, G. Odularu, & V. Mjimba (Eds.), Scaling up SDGs implementation (Sustainable Development Goals Series). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33216-7_6.
Durban Tourism. (2013). Taking Durban to the world: Visitor marketing strategy 2013–2020. Durban: eThekwini Municipality.
Gattringer, C. W. (2018). A revisited conceptualisation of plastic pollution accumulation in marine environments: Insights from a social ecological economics perspective. Marine Policy, 96, 221–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.11.036.
Goba, T. (2019). 300 tons of dirt removed from harbour after #DurbanFloods. Daily News. Retrieved April 20, 2020, from https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kwazulu-natal/300-tons-of-dirt-removed-from-harbour-after-durban-floods
Hardesty, B. D., Good, T. P., & Wilcox, C. (2015). Novel methods, new results and science-based solutions to tackle marine debris impacts on wildlife. Ocean and Coastal Management, 115, 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.04.004.
Hayward, R. (2018). Foreign exchange speculation: An event study. International Journal of Financial Studies, 6, 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs6010022.
Head, T. (2019). Durban floods: Here’s how much rain has fallen since Monday. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from www.thesouthafrican.com/news/weather/durban-floods-how-much-rainfall-kzn-23-april/
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2019). Special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate—SROCC. Geneva, Switzerland: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Jambeck, J., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T., Perryman, M., & Andrady, A. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768–771.
Jang, Y. C., Hong, S., Lee, J., Lee, M. J., & Shim, W. J. (2014). Estimation of lost tourism revenue in Geoje Island from the 2011 marine debris pollution event in South Korea. Mar.Pollut.Bull, 81(1), 49–54.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Treasury. (2013). Municipal finance 4th quarter review, Close-out report 2012/2013. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government: Pietermaritzburg.
Leonard, L. (2004). Health care waste in Southern Africa: A civil society perspective. In: Proceedings of the International Health Care Waste Management Conference and Exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lishivha, W. (2018). Help save our seas on International Coastal Cleanup Day 2018. Getaway News. Retrieved April 20, 2020, from https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/save-the-seas-international-coastal-cleanup-day-2018/
McCormick, A., Hoellein, T. J., Mason, S. A., Schluep, J., & Kelly, J. J. (2014). Microplastic is an abundant and distinct microbial habitat in an urban river. Environmental Science & Technology, 48, 11863–11871.
Menyuka, N. N., Sibanda, M., & Bob, U. (2020). Perceptions of the challenges and opportunities of utilising organic waste through urban agriculture in the durban south basin. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1158. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041158.
Mouat, T., Lopez-Lozano, R., & Bateson, H. (2010). Economic impacts of marine litter. KIMO (Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljøorganisasjon/Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation.
Naidoo, T., Smit, A. J., & Glassom, D. (2016). Plastic ingestion by estuarine mullet Mugilcephalus (Mugilidae) in an urban harbour, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science, 38(1), 145–149. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2016.1159616.
Nhamo, G. (2007). Environmental law and policy reform surrounding packaging waste management in South Africa. Packaging Waste Management in South Africa, SAJELP, 14, 136–157.
Nhamo, G. (2008). Regulating plastics waste, stakeholder engagement and sustainability challenges in South Africa. Urban Forum, 19, 83–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-008-9022-0.
Ocean Conservancy. (2019). Internarial Coastal Cleaning 2019 report. Retrieved June 5, 2020, from www.oceanconcervancy.org/annualreport2019
Ogola, J. S. (2012). Management of solid wastes: A case study in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Retrieved from http://www.Intechopen.com/InTech
Pettipas, S., Bernier, M., & Walker, T. R. (2016). A Canadian policy framework to mitigate plastic marine pollution. Marine Policy, 68, 117–122.
Rochman, C. M., Kross, S. M., Armstrong, J. B., Bogan, M. T., Darling, E. S., Green, S. J., Smyth, A. R., & Veríssimo, D. (2015). Scientific evidence supports a ban on microbeads. Environmental Science & Technology, 49, 10759–10761.
Ryan, P. G. (2015). A brief history of marine litter research. In M. Bergmann, L. Gutow, & M. Klages (Eds.), Marine anthropogenic litter (pp. 1–25). Berlin: Springer.
Schnurr, R. E. J., Alboiu, V., Chaudhary, M., Corbett, R. A., Quanz, M. E., Sankar, K., Srain, H. S., Thavarajah, V., Xanthos, D., & Walker, T. R. (2018). Reducing marine pollution from single-use plastics (SUPs): A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin., 137, 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.001.
Seltenrich, N. (2015). New link in the food chain? Marine plastic pollution and seafood safety. Environmental Health Perspectives, 123, 34–41.
Stickel, B. H., Jahn, A., & Kier, W. (2012). The cost to west coast communities of dealing with trash, reducing marine debris (p. 21). Prepared by Kier Associates for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Thompson, R. C. (2015). Mircoplastics in the marine environment: Sources, consequences and solutions. In M. Bergmann, L. Gutow, & M. Klages (Eds.), Marine anthropogenic litter (pp. 185–200). Heidelberg: Springer.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2011). Plastic debris in the Ocean, UNEP year book 2011. Nairobi: UNEP.
UNEP and NOAA. (2015). The Honolulu Strategy: A global framework for prevention and management of marine debris. Retrieved November 15, 2019, from http://unep.org/gpa/documents/publications/honolulustrategy.pdf
UNEP/GPA. (2011). Global programme of action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities. Retrieved from http://www.gpa.unep.org/
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2018). Single-use plastics: A roadmap for sustainability. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. New York: United Nations.
Van Heerden, P. (2015). The politics of knowledge: Case study of the management of beach water quality in Durban, South Africa. Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the Master of Social Science Degree in the School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
Van Rensburg, M. L., Nkomo, S. L., & Dube, T. (2019). The ‘plastic waste era’; Social perceptions towards single-use plastic consumption and impacts on the marine environment in Durban, South Africa. Applied Geography, 114, 102132. doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2019.102132.
Xanthos, D., & Walker, T. (2017). International policies to reduce plastic marine pollution from single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads): A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 118(1–2), 17–26.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chikodzi, D., Dube, K., Ngcobo, N. (2021). Rethinking Harbours, Beaches and Urban Estuaries Waste Management Under Climate-Induced Floods in South Africa. In: Nhamo, G., Chapungu, L. (eds) The Increasing Risk of Floods and Tornadoes in Southern Africa. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74192-1_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74192-1_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-74191-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-74192-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)