Four reasons why Trash Bash beach cleanups are the best way to spend a Saturday

If you’re keen to have a positive impact on the environment but aren’t sure how to do so, Trash Bash is the place to start! Every month, the Two Oceans Aquarium hosts their popular Trash Bash beach cleanups at one of three local beaches: Sunset, Sunrise, and Lagoon.

Not only is Trash Bash an awesome way to get involved in ocean conservation, but it is also an opportunity to spend time with loved ones on one of Cape Town’s stunning beaches. Since 2018, the campaign has visited many of Cape Town’s beaches and has had thousands of volunteers take part in the cleanup, removing litter from the beach and thus interrupting the cycle of marine pollution.

Celebrate Cape Town’s natural beauty

What better way to enjoy a Saturday than in the great outdoors? Cape Town is home to some incredible natural beauty, from its craggy mountains to its wild ocean. Trash Bash takes place on three stunning beaches (Sunset, Sunrise, and Lagoon), truly allowing volunteers to reconnect with nature and appreciate the beauty of our coastline. Furthermore, being in these spaces helps us to take pride in preserving them for future generations.

Connect with community

Trash Bash is more than a group of people gathering to pick up rubbish – it is a community of ocean enthusiasts from all walks of life who assemble to make a tangible difference for our marine ecosystems. With 2025’s Trash Bashes taking place at three well-known and popular beaches, the events provide a wonderful opportunity to build community. Locals and tourists can gather to make new friends, strengthen community bonds, and simply connect with like-minded people.

Make conservation fun and accessible

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the plastic crisis facing our oceans – our Marine Wildlife Management Programme and Turtle Conservation Centre see the impact of plastic pollution on our marine wildlife every day. Often, one may feel unsure of how to make a difference, or even where to start.

Trash Bash is one of the easiest ways to dip your toes into ocean conservation. Our regular participants have one thing in common – they all want to do their bit for the ocean. Simply show up with a positive attitude and get started!

Develop a shared sense of environmental responsibility

There is nothing like the feeling of arriving at a beach strewn with litter and leaving it cleaner than you found it. This feeling is especially profound when one considers that every piece of waste removed from the ocean environment reduces the chance of it entangling a seal, being ingested by a turtle, or leeching chemicals into coral reefs.

Young or old, the impact of Trash Bash will leave a lasting impression on any volunteer and build a sense of stewardship for the ocean and our marine ecosystems.

If you’re looking for an enthusiastic community of ocean-minded people, look no further than Trash Bash! The next beach cleanup will be held at Sunset Beach on 19 April 2025 – see you there.