Blue Revive: Making Waves for a Cleaner Coastal Line

Grab your sunscreen and join us on a sandy adventure as we dive into the heart of our beach cleanup series; Blue Revive.

As the co-director of the Environmental Services Avenue of the club, I believe taking action to protect our environment is one of the best activities one could do. Our oceans and marine life are seriously threatened by marine trash. Millions of tonnes of trash enter the ocean each year, harming marine life and polluting our beaches. Therefore, after discussions with my team, we introduced "Blue Revive" as a novel initiative by the Environmental Services Avenue of Rotaract Club of University of Moratuwa, which focuses on cleaning up the coastal line through beach cleanups. Our beach cleanup series is a way of combating the above problem and making a positive impact on our environment. Previously, beach cleanups were conducted in Rotaract Mora as sub-projects but not as main projects.

It was decided to have two beach cleanups for this year, targeting two different locations. In order to proceed, three project co-chairpersons were selected from the 22nd batch, representing three different faculties. They were delighted to be the project co-chairpersons of this beautiful environmental service. They named the two phases the First Wave and Second Wave.

The First Wave of the project was conducted at Panadura Beach as decided by the project co-chairpersons. After selecting the location, permissions were granted from the local authorities. After that, a beautiful series of flyers was shared to attract volunteers to the project. The first beach cleanup under this project was held on the 4th of November 2023, with over 40 volunteers. The cleanup started at 7 am, and volunteers actively engaged. More than 25 garbage bags were filled with all types of trash. The garbage was collected as plastics, polythene, glass, etc., separately.

The second wave of the project was conducted at Mount Lavinia Beach. In this wave, a captivating series of flyers was shared to attract volunteers and to raise virtual awareness on how marine biodiversity is affected by marine trash. This was conducted on the 18th of February 2023, with 20+ volunteers collecting 10+ garbage bags.

Organizing beach cleanups has not been without its challenges. Weather conditions, logistical issues, and coordinating volunteers have all presented challenges. However, with careful planning and the dedication of the organizing committee, we were able to overcome these obstacles and make each cleanup a success.

From the two cleanups conducted, we have collected over 35 garbage bags with trash from our beaches, including plastic bottles, cans, and fishing nets. This trash would have otherwise ended up in the ocean, posing a threat to marine life. Our cleanups have not only improved the appearance of our beaches but also helped protect our marine ecosystem.

Our beach cleanup series is far from over. We plan to continue organizing cleanups next year as well and expand our efforts to other beaches in the area. We also hope to collaborate with other organizations and local businesses to raise even more awareness about marine conservation in the future.

Our beach cleanup series has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved. As the sun sets on another successful project, we're filled with gratitude for everyone who has joined us on this incredible journey. Our beaches are not just cleaner; they're a testament to what we can achieve when we come together for a common cause.

Join us next time to make waves of changes. Together, we can make a difference—one beach cleanup at a time!