In the afternoon of May 23, under clear early summer skies in Shanghai, Shanghai Roots & Shoots organized 40 volunteers to carry out a beach cleanup at Shanghai Binjiang Forest Park in Pudong New Area. The event took place just ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8. This year’s theme, “Awaken New Depths,” calls on the public to pay closer attention to the marine ecological crisis, with plastic pollution being one of the most pressing challenges.
Shanghai Binjiang Forest Park is located at the confluence of the Huangpu River, the Yangtze River, and the East China Sea, representing a typical tidal flat ecosystem in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. This area is not only an ecologically sensitive land–water transition zone but also an important pathway through which land-based plastic waste enters the ocean. One of the primary sources of microplastics in marine environments is improperly disposed plastic waste. Under natural forces such as sunlight and wave action, these materials gradually break down into microplastic particles smaller than 5 mm. These particles then enter water bodies and sediments, move through the food chain, and ultimately affect marine biodiversity. Some microplastics may also re-enter the human food chain through seafood consumption. According to the United Nations, approximately 80% of marine plastic waste originates from land, and each tide and rainstorm can carry such waste into the East China Sea.
On the afternoon of the event, volunteers were grouped according to wristband color and provided with collection tools. Staff from Roots & Shoots first gave standardized instructions on cleanup procedures, safety precautions, and data recording methods, after which the volunteers were divided into five groups to carry out the cleanup simultaneously. Despite the work taking place during the hottest part of the day, and the hot, humid early summer conditions posing challenges for outdoor activity, each group continued to systematically remove small plastic waste such as cigarette butts and packaging fragments scattered across the area. Participants came to recognize that these small and often overlooked items are key precursors to microplastic formation.
After the cleanup, volunteers sorted and weighed the collected waste by material type, including plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and milk cartons. In total, 98.295 kilograms of waste were collected during the activity. The volunteers compiled the data and their observations as a real-world example of public participation in addressing marine plastic pollution. As emphasized by World Oceans Day, every small action is a response to the ocean. Reducing plastic is not just a one-time cleanup effort, but a sustainable lifestyle choice.
Special thanks to Uncle Earth for their strong support of this event.