Efficiency of beach clean-ups and deposit refund schemes (DRS) to avoid damages from plastic pollution on the tourism sector in Cape Town, South Africa Authors: Jain, A., Raes, L., Manyara, P. May 2021 GLOBAL MARINE AND POLAR PROGRAMME About IUCN IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and some 18,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. www.iucn.org twitter.com/IUCN/ Efficiency of beach clean-ups and deposit refund schemes (DRS) to avoid damages from plastic pollution on the tourism sector in Cape Town, South Africa Authors: Jain, A., Raes, L., Manyara, P. This policy brief is the summary of the Master’s thesis for University of Nantes, 2019-2020. The thesis was completed at IUCN, Switzerland as part of the Marine Plastics and Coastal Communities (MARPLASTICs) project. The following report is an analysis of the costs and benefits of current beach clean-ups in Cape Town, and it aims to estimate the cost efficiency of implementing a Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) in conjunction with beach clean-ups. (Full Thesis). The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or other participating organisations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or other participating organisations. IUCN is pleased to acknowledge the support of its Framework Partners who provide core funding: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Government of France and the French Development Agency (AFD); the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea; the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad); the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the United States Department of State. This publication has been made possible by funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) from the Marine Plastics and Coastal Communities (MARPLASTICCs) project in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand and Viet Nam. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, Global Marine and Polar Programme Copyright: © 2021 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Jain, A., Raes, L., Manyara, P., Efficiency of beach clean-ups and deposit refund schemes (DRS) to avoid damages from plastic pollution on the tourism sector in Cape Town, South Africa. Switzerland: IUCN. 10 pp. Authors: Aanchal Jain, Leander Raes (Economic Knowledge Unit, IUCN), Peter Manyara (IUCN ESARO) Editors: Jennifer Ross-Jones, Lynn Sorrentino (Publication Coordinator) Reviewers IUCN: Janaka de Silva, Lynn Sorrentino Cover Photo: Beach in Kenya, White Rhino Films. Design and layout: Imre Sebestyén, jr / Unit Graphics Available from: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Global Marine and Polar Programme (GMPP) Rue Mauverney 28 1196 Gland Switzerland Tel +41 22 999 0000 Fax +41 22 999 0002 www.iucn.org/theme/marine-and-polar/our-work/close-plastic-tap-programme/reports Table of contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1 Impacts of beach litter on tourism and its economic cost ...........................................................1 Measures to remove plastic litter from the coastlines ..................................................................1 Study area ...................................................................................................................................1 Study objective ........................................................................................................................... 2 Results .............................................................................................................................................4 Impacts on tourism revenue ......................................................................................................4 Impact on tourism employment .................................................................................................4 Beach cleaning efficiency for all coastal plastic litter ..................................................................4 Beach cleaning efficiency for plastic bottles ...............................................................................4 Impact on plastic bottle collection with the implementation of a DRS ......................................4 Total cost of clean beaches (with beach clean-ups and DRS) ...................................................... 5 Cost efficiency of clean beaches ................................................................................................ 7 Impact on employment after DRS implementation .................................................................. 7 Sensitivity Analysis. 7 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................9 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................10 Introduction Introduction Impacts of beach litter on tourism and its economic cost Plastic debris is commonly found on many employment (Jang, 2011). According to a survey beaches (Hammer, 2012). The quantities of conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, clean plastic debris items found vary greatly over beaches are one of the most important factors the course of any year and differ by location for tourists; plastic litter can dissuade them (Thompson et al., 2009a). Accumulation of from coming to the beaches (Ballance, 1996). plastic debris is greater near densely populated For instance, €25 and €40 million represent areas and on more frequently visited beaches. the estimated loss in tourism revenue due to Plastic litter on beaches is primarily sourced coastal litter in South Korea and California, from adjoining land areas (Hammer, 2012). The respectively (Jang et al., 2014; Leggett et al., build-up of plastic litter on beaches can have a 2014). Dirty beaches also increase the costs for large impact on a country’s economy, wildlife, governments, local municipalities, and NGOs and the physical and psychological wellbeing to ensure clean, attractive, and safe beaches of individuals (Moore et al., 2001; Donohue et al., for tourists. These costs include the collection, 2001). transportation and disposal of litter, and the associated administrative costs. In most cases, The major economic cost of this plastic debris the costs spent on cleaning are justifiable; the is the reduced aesthetic appeal of coastal areas. benefits harvested from doing so are generally This adversely affects the tourism industry, much higher (Ryan, 2000). leading to a loss of output, revenue, and Measures to remove plastic litter from the coastlines There are several solutions to address the coastlines. Lastly, addressing consumer coastal litter problem. Preventative measures behaviours (such as implementing taxes on include strengthening producers’ extended plastic bottles) can also reduce plastic littering responsibility, implementing a ‘Deposit Refund by discouraging the consumption of plastic Scheme’ (DRS), and/or improving waste materials in the first place. This study focuses management practices. Removal measures on the costs and benefits of implementing DRS involve the direct removal of litter from the in conjunction with beach-clean up actions. Study area This study focuses on Cape Town City, one employment. For instance, the tourism sector of the most touristic regions in South Africa, directly employed 43,566 people in 2018. Total where beaches are a natural, focal attraction employment in the tourism sector in Cape Town (Sowman, 1990). Cape Town is one of the has grown over 2.6% over the last decade (City of most visited cities in South Africa with 49% Cape Town, 2019). of international tourists and 20% of domestic tourists (City of Cape Town, 2019). Tourism in A large number of tourists visit Cape Town, Cape Town not only contributes significantly which is known for its coastline that stretches