Volunteers unite in Malaysia's Dive Against Debris mission for environmental impact
The event, led by the Black Eye Scuba Team with support from the Besut District Office, will feature underwater clean-ups, shoreline waste removal, and interactive educational sessions on topics such as ocean health and turtle conservation.
'This is a dive against debris, beach clean-up and environment education happening that entire weekend,' Datuk Zuraidah Atan, a collaborator, said
'The difference here is we don't just collect rubbish and throw it away, we weigh it, sort it, collect the data and record it in a global database which then goes to the PADI Aware Foundation and the Jabatan Laut.'
Timed to follow the monsoon season, the campaign aims to rejuvenate eco-tourism in the area while reinforcing advocacy for zero plastic waste through data-backed evidence.
According to Zuraidah, cigarette butts remain the most commonly found litter on beaches, and the statistics collected feed into PADI's global climate action movement.
PADI Aware Foundation contributes its expertise to the programme by supporting divers who document marine debris, enabling the data to help shape international marine protection policies.
Besides diving, volunteers will also take part in shoreline clean-ups, educational workshops, and outreach sessions at SK Perhentian, including talks on responsible tourism and turtle conservation.
More information on the event is available here.
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The EPA says it takes about three to six months, which can be faster than backyard composting. They can create a more nutritious end product than in traditional compost. But Goldstein said that it can be tricky to ensure conditions are right for the worms. 'You want to make sure those worms are very happy, because if they're not, they will leave the bin. And they're not harmful, it's just a little freaky,' said Goldstein. Traditional composting, whether indoors or outdoors, is typically a process that takes place over months, not days, Goldstein said. Electric countertop devices that promise to break down food in hours or days don't use the same process. Goldstein said those devices produce material that can be used in gardens, but it's 'not completely broken down' and should be mixed with soil. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. 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