When the wind died down, the feet flowed in – and more than 100 Strand beachgoers hauled nearly half a ton of rubbish off the sand in just two hours.

Over 140 movers and shakers descended on Strand Beach opposite De Brasserie on Saturday (19 September) to mark International Coastal Cleanup Day, and what a morning it was.

The breeze conveniently dropped just in time, the volunteers got stuck in and the sand was noticeably lighter by the time they were done.

In two hours the group cleared 440 kg of rubbish from a two-kilometre stretch of Strand Beach. Only 40 kg of that was recyclable – most of the haul was smaller fragments: lollipop sticks, straws, bottle tops and cigarette butts.

The good news, say organisers, is that each year less is being removed, a sign that the community” regular #pickituppickpickitup efforts are making a real difference.

It was not all work either. Volunteers worked, played, connected and learnt – and some lucky participants even left with prizes.

The Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement and Shark Spotters, under the #smartliving banner, organised the cleanup, with the haul removed by CL Trading.

The event was supported by the City of Cape Town, Strand Neighbourhood Watch (Strand Buurtwag), Secure Rite Security, Newberry House Montessori School, Busamed Paardevlei Private Hospital, CCH Strand, Bossa Strand Pavilion, Helderberg Sunrise Rotary Club, Mondeor Eco School, Natural Energy Surf Store and Templar of the Cape.