NISD ZeroPlastic Club Collects 31 kg of Waste in Chilaw Beach Cleanup

The Zero Plastic Club of the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) carried out a beach cleanup project titled Clean Waves at Chilaw Beach on 13 September 2026. The activity took place from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and involved a team of eight volunteers who worked together to remove litter and plastic waste from the shoreline.

The project was organized to address the accumulation of waste along the beach and to provide ZeroPlastic volunteers with a hands-on opportunity to contribute to a cleaner coastal environment. By focusing on both waste removal and proper waste handling, the initiative aimed to promote responsible environmental practices among the participating volunteers.

The activity began with an orientation session covering safety guidelines and waste segregation methods. Following this briefing, volunteers moved along the beach collecting litter from the sand and shoreline. Once the cleanup was completed, the collected waste was sorted into distinct categories, including plastics, biodegradable materials, and other recyclables. This sorting process helped ensure that the waste could be disposed of or directed for recycling in an appropriate manner.

Over the course of the two-hour cleanup, the eight volunteers collected a total of 31 kilograms of waste from the beach. The volume of material gathered within a relatively short period reflected the extent of waste accumulation along the stretch of coastline covered during the project.

The activity provided the participating volunteers with practical experience in environmental cleanup work and waste segregation. It also offered a direct understanding of the types and quantities of waste found in coastal areas, reinforcing the importance of reducing plastic pollution and managing waste responsibly at the community level.

Clean Waves represents a focused effort by the Zero Plastic Club of NISD to extend its environmental work beyond the campus and into the surrounding community. The project cont…