What was once an issue faced mainly by major towns and cities in the country has now crept into coastal villages.
Plastic pollution, if not properly addressed, will damage the coastline and marine life that coastal villages depend on as their source of food.
A coastal plastic clean-up campaign was conducted in three Motuan villages along the coastline of Magi Highway.
Coordinated by the Conservation Environment Protection Authority, or CEPA, with the help of student volunteers from the University of PNG Science department, the Coastal Plastic Clean-up Campaign was undertaken simultaneously in these three villages on August 28th.
Barakau villagers said although there was not enough awareness about the campaign, villagers both young and old, mobilised efforts with the organisers and cleaned up along the beach front as well as under and beside their houses.
“We welcome this initiative and would really love for it to be conducted regularly; perhaps we locals can arrange this in our communities and take responsibility of our coastline,” said Lois Nanai, an elder from Barakau Village.
A series of awareness were also carried out to educate locals on the impact littering and plastic pollution has on communities, the beach and the marine life.