How to organise an international coastal cleanup

Registration You will be invited to return to your site Advantages: – early-bird priority registration, – experience, thus less effort in preparation – familiarity with the site, better safety – enhance your programme in small steps each year

Registration Check for available sites at: Explore site using the map: Register your location at:

Objectives for Organisers 0 – Be clear about your objectives. 1 – A SAFE and EFFICIENT cleanup 2 – Educate before your cleanup (marine life. plastic debris). 3 – Post cleanup analysis 4 – Be Green

How does an Organiser prepare? 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication

The SITE RECCE is a critical step before cleanup to evaluate the actual situation as this influences how you manage your cleanup and allows you to address safety issues. AFTER you have conducted your Site Recce, do chat with your Zone Captain about details – they visit these sites every year. 1. Recee of the cleanup site

Things to prepare before a site recce - 1. Obtain a map of the area from: Google Maps Streetdirectory maps NParks webpage 2. The tidal level of the recce should be the same as the ICCS date; use Mobile Geographics 1. Recee of the cleanup site

1.1 - Accessibility of site How to get there? Describe. What is the distance between the carparks / bus-stops and the site. Mark on a map. Is there a place for vehicles to wait? Where are the boundaries of the site? How large is it? 1. Recee of the cleanup site

Location and boundaries of the site Are there any landmarks in the area? Bus-stops? Meeting Points and facilities? Use Google Maps.

1.2 - Meeting Point and facilities. Where is the “Meeting Point”? In parks, take note of sign post numbers and mark those on a map; these are used by police, ambulance and NParks. Where are the nearby shelters in case of bad weather? Where are the nearby toilets? 1. Recee of the cleanup site

Some sites may be far away from the bus depot. It is important to gauge on the time taken to walk to the site so that organisers can determine on reporting time and leaving time. How long to actually get there?

1.3 - Trash a. What is the estimated trash load? (How many can work the site) b. Where is the Trash Collection Point? Where you accumulate and weigh trash. c. Where is the Trash Disposal Point? Where you leave trash bags behind for NEA contractors to pickup. Usually near a bin centre or rubbish collection point. 1. Recee of the cleanup site

What is the trash load like? How many people can effectively work the site for 90mins?

The Trash Collection Point/Weighing Station Trash Collection Point(/s) should be located at a convenient and appropriate distance from the cleanup site. Weighing stations can set up at several TCPs to facilitate the removal of trash from a heavy load sites and consolidated later to at a single Trash Disposal Point.

1.4 - Safety Safety Identify safety concerns, e.g. hornets, snakes or lots of glass or syringes. Steep slopes, slippery rocks, suitability for children. Look for locations of rain shelters. You and your assistants must know the best routes to the nearest hospital location in case of an emergency. 1. Recee of the cleanup site

1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication How does an Organiser prepare?

2. Recruiting participants Number of participants are determined by the trash load of a particular site and its ability to accommodate participants. The Zone Captains usually help to - determine this during Site Allocation exercise.

2. Recruiting participants Suggestion – use Google Forms

1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication How does an Organiser prepare?

3.1 – Step 1. Organise your manpwer after they have signed up  E.g. 40 participants = 10 teams  1 team = 1 Data recorder + 3 Trash Collectors  1 Group leader (safety and mgmt)  1 Data Manager  1 Weighing/Loading I/C(ref. recce)  1 Photographer

3.2 – Step 2. Prepare enough data cards

Gloves Tough Trash Bags Weighing scale First-aid kit 3.3 – Step 3. Get other supplies

3.3 Gloves Are Important! Protects hands from very dirty or oil-soaked items Protects hands from very dirty or oil-soaked items BUT, gloves do not provide protection from sharp items e.g. needles BUT, gloves do not provide protection from sharp items e.g. needles So, be careful when picking up items! So, be careful when picking up items!

3.4 Beach cleanups with low trash load do not require many trash bags. Volunteers can bring their own plastic bags.

1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication How does an Organiser prepare?

4. Transport Organisers may be responsible to provide transport for participants. Find out the time taken to depart and arrive at the site - plan accordingly. Is there parking space – avoid difficult spaces too!

1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication How does an Organiser prepare?

5. Data Collection At the end of the cleanup, data cards are to be collected and consolidated by the data manager before submitting to the site captain. Know your trash!

1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication 1.Recce of cleanup site 2.Register and brief participants 3.Logistics 4.Transport 5.Data Collection 6.Communication How does an Organiser prepare?

6. Communication  It is important to identify a photographer to contribute to the event by taking: a. close up of participants, b. essential cleanup activities (eg. data recording) In order to do this, the photographer must be briefed about the cleanup as well.  Encourage participants to blog, twitter, facebook

WHAT HAPPENS? On the day of Cleanup

Pre-Cleanup Briefing for Participants Mark attendance Mark attendance Break out into groups Break out into groups Assign Team Leader, Data Recorders, etc Assign Team Leader, Data Recorders, etc Ensure sufficient data cards and trash bags Ensure sufficient data cards and trash bags Distribute gloves Distribute gloves

Safety Briefing (1) Keep away from any oil drums found Keep away from any oil drums found Beware of broken glass, fishing hooks, syringes and other sharp objects Beware of broken glass, fishing hooks, syringes and other sharp objects Always use gloves to pick up things Always use gloves to pick up things

Safety Briefing (2) Do not open any bottles found, they may contain poison Do not open any bottles found, they may contain poison Take care of your back! Have someone to help you carry heavy trash bags together Take care of your back! Have someone to help you carry heavy trash bags together

Avoid bushy areas as there may be hornet nests Avoid bushy areas as there may be hornet nests When there is lighting and thunder, stop work immediately and seek shelter When there is lighting and thunder, stop work immediately and seek shelter Drink enough water to prevent dehydration or heat stroke Drink enough water to prevent dehydration or heat stroke Safety Briefing (3)

Watch where you step. Watch where you step. Watch what you are picking up! Watch what you are picking up! Safety Briefing (4)

Walk to the designated sites in teams!

Team works Collecting, categorizing and recording trash Collecting, categorizing and recording trash

Categorize & Record Data Carefully! Data collected might be used to influence legislation on marine laws. Data collected might be used to influence legislation on marine laws. It is used in media campaigns. It is used in media campaigns. It is used to encourage action from the grassroots. It is used to encourage action from the grassroots. Your data is IMPORTANT. Please ensure participants record data accurately. Your data is IMPORTANT. Please ensure participants record data accurately.

Weigh the trash bags! Be accurate!

Bring Trash to a Trash Collection Point

Trash from Trash Collection Points (TCPs) will be transported to the Trash Disposal Point (TDP) pre-arranged with a trash disposal company through your Zone Captains. Zone Captains will liase with NEA and /or NParks for some of you

Ensure all data is properly recorded on Data Cards Note down: –T–T–T–Total weight –T–T–T–Total number of trash bags –T–T–T–Total area covered (check with Site Coordinator or Google Maps)

Consolidate Data Every three cards are counted into one NEW card if neccessary (so bring extra) Every three cards are counted into one NEW card if neccessary (so bring extra) Continue until there is only one card per SITE Continue until there is only one card per SITE Which site are you in? Clearly indicate on the card Which site are you in? Clearly indicate on the card Do you know the total number of people working on the card? Do you know the total number of people working on the card? The total distance/area covered? The total distance/area covered? It’s IMPORTANT! It’s IMPORTANT!

Consolidate and Submit Data to the Data Manager the same day

In Singapore, consolidated data is verified the same day and uploaded from public access (expect a phone call from us)

What do volunteers think? Share the cleanup report summary with volunteers and facilitate a discussion based on personal thoughts about the issue

Share your photos and stories them to: We will cover this in detail at the ICCS Briefing – send us your photographers and bloggers.

IS EVERYONE WITH YOU? Leaving the site