International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a global event initiated by Ocean Conservancy (OC) in 1986. Its aim is to engage citizens to remove trash and debris from beaches and waterways all around world, identify the sources of debris, and change the behavioral patterns that contribute to pollution (www.oceanconservancy.org).
The Green Council (GC) has been the official Hong Kong & Macau coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) since 2008. During the cleanup activities, data cards are completed by the volunteers, then GC compiles and analyses the data from all the completed data cards. The final result will be published and used to educate the public, business, industry and government authorities about marine debris issue in Hong Kong. Through education and awareness of such issues will bring forth long term solutions and changes in behavior.
Importance of ICC
Marine debris is a serious and worsening problem in marine and coastal environments worldwide, and Hong Kong's waters and coasts have not escaped this problem. The United Nations Environment Program's State of the Marine Environment report suggests that the main ocean-based sources of marine litter found in East Asian waters are shipping, ferries and cruise liners, fishing vessels, aquaculture, mariculture, and offshore oil and gas platforms; while the main land-based sources are coastal municipal sewage, storm water, industrial facilities, solid waste from landfills, untreated waste water, and tourism (recreational visitors to the coast). All of these sources need to be addressed in a comprehensive strategy to reduce marine debris in Hong Kong's waters.
Goals
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Engage people to identify the sources of debris
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Remove and record marine debris collected from the beaches and waterways in Hong Kong
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Influence and change behavioral patterns that contribute to pollution
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Build team spirit
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Provide opportunities for local environmentally concerned and responsible businesses to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the community
Recreational activities: Irresponsible behaviors from the swimmers, beach-goers; debris due to sports/games, festivals; litter from streets/storm drains, etc.
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Ocean activities: Rubbish from fishing boat, ferry, boat/vessel operations etc.
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Dumping activities: Debris from landfill site, household and construction.
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Cigarette end and smoking-related activities
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Refuse from medical health and personal hygiene products
Why is the problem so bad?
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People do not bother to throw rubbish into bins properly.
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Visitors to BBQ site, country parks or picnic site left their food, packagings, bottles and forks behind without proper disposal.
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Rubbish throwing out from the boats because it is easier than bringing them ashore for proper disposal.
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Construction workers leaving rubbish and dumping refuse on reclamation and building sites.
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Restaurant operators not disposing of their waste properly.
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Waste disposal workers doing a poor job.
Actions to be taken Individual Action
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Be responsible for the rubbish you generate. Disposal the rubbish properly. Don't throw the rubbish to the sea when you are on a boat. ?Take your rubbish back on land for proper disposal.
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In order to reduce the waste, you should support recycling – ask the building management of your office and residence, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to provide recycling bins
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Take part in the annual International Coastal Cleanup
Government Action
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Work across departments to maximize coordination efforts and ensure public sector workers are motivated.
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Check professionalism of publicly funded disposal contractors to ensure rubbish is disposed of properly.
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Target specific industries, such as fishing and construction, to help workers change behaviour over a period of time
Where? Any shorelines in Hong Kong. Green Council also provides suggestion on potential cleanups beaches. Who? Every party (including local and international schools, CSR-concerned companies) or individual can become the Cleanup Organizer (CO).
How? Organization, Company, School or Individual participants (with >10 people per group)
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Download and read the "Guidance for Cleanup" before the registration as Clean-up Organizer.
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Decide the cleanup venue, date, time and number of participants.
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For Schools and organizations, complete the registration form with contact person's signature and stamp.
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Send the completed registration form to Green Council by email (info@greencouncil.org) or fax: 2810 1998 TWO weeks before the proposed clean-up date.
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Green Council will send confirmation to participants by EMAIL ONLY while the location is available.
International Coastal Cleanup 2013 Hong Kong Briefing Session
Date: Early July 2013
Time: 1:45p.m. – 4:00p.m.
Venue: TBC
Fee: Free of charge
ICC 2013 Kick-off Ceremony
Date: Saturday, 21 September 2013
Time: 11:30a.m - 12:30p.m.
Venue: Stanley Plaza Fee: Free of charge
ICC 2013 Cleanups (21 September 2013 to 9 November 2013) (For Schools and charity organizations)
No special abilities are required to participate – only a desire to help. After a few hours of cleaning up a beach, students will come away with more than just a bag of rubbish: they will have a better knowledge of how rubbish travels the importance of recycling and proper disposal.
If you would like to organize your own cleanup, we will be delighted to offer you all the guidance required. Rubbish bags and gloves will be provided. We would be delighted to visit your school to give an introductory talk about the problems of marine debris and taking part in the cleanup.
Please click to download the Registration form.
ICC 2013 HK Fund-raising Cleanup Activity (21 September 2013 to 9 November 2013)(For company organizations)
Green Council is a non-profit environmental organization, through our motto of "Conservation begins with Education", we hope to organize a cleanup activity for companies with concern for corporate social responsibility and provide them an opportunity to demonstrate their concern on the marine environment. This year’s ICC (www.coastalcleanup.hk) activity will include a fund-raising component; the income from the fund-raising cleanup activity will be used towards organizing a series of educational workshops and seminars on disseminating the marine conservation message and delivery of green living practices and attitudes to students and teachers.
Please click to download the Enrollment Form.
Supporting Government Departments:
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Environmental Protection Department
Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Hong Kong Green Label Scheme
Eco-product Certification Scheme
China Environmental
Labelling Program
Introduction