KNYSNA NEWS - Sanparks has announced that a cargo net placed at a culvert to stop waste flowing into the Knysna estuary's Ashmead Channel is a major success, and that it will be rolled out to at least 15 more points and paid for by the municipality.

The net project, which started off as a collaborative effort between the national parks agency and Knysna Ratepayers' Association (KRA), with the latter carrying the initial costs thereof, has proven to be an effective waste-capturing device, said Sanparks.

"We're rolling out the 15 nets paid for by the municipality. Sanparks tried the net through a pilot project phase which lasted for about two months. The net is most effective upon receiving approximately 30-40mm of rain and more," stated Sanparks spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba.

She added that Scott Ronaldson of Sanparks is still looking at what the net is not catching. "The net captured six bags of litter as of 26 December 2018 and another two bags were recorded on 8 January. Most items collected included cans, cool drink bottles, cigarette buds, chip packets and plastic," it was stated.

Mgwadlamba also said that a Sanparks team has been collecting litter "from source to sea".

"This team has been collecting litter around the Knysna estuary and also the Blue Flag beach. They have been collecting litter on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the end of January 2019 at the Blue Flag beaches. The schedule will go back to once a week for beaches."

There are 12 designated hotspots targeted, Mgwadlamba said, including at the Knysna Angling Club, the Station, Thesen, Queen Street and Food Lover's Market. This means they clean from the watershed, all the way down to the estuary. Once litter is collected, it is sorted and recyclable material handed over to the recycling centre in Knysna.

Sanparks honorary rangers also organise weekly litter cleanups of the estuary with volunteers, the spokesperson concluded.

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