Marine health is a major focus for all stakeholders as thousands of visitors head to the beautiful beaches of Kwadukuza this winter for the Ballito Pro announced by O'Neill. Therefore, an ongoing environmental campaign was held throughout Ballito Pro from June 22nd to July 6th, with beaches and oceans still in protection now and in the future.
“One of the main reasons Ballito Pro is hosted at Kwadukuza on the KZN North Coast is the fantastic beach here,” explains Collette Bundy, Ballito Pro, announced by the organizers of O'Neill Festival. “Without a healthy ocean, there is no Ballito Pro. We are all responsible for the health and well-being of our beaches and oceans, so we are calling on our visitors and participants to support the environmental campaigns that run throughout the festival.”
Ballito Pro Environmental Campaign
Beach revitalization: Litter4Tokens Nurdles Competition & Recycling Project
The 2025 campaign, running across the Ballito Pro in Willard Beach, includes a wide range of environmental programs promoted by Litter4Tokens, collaborating with Dolphin Coast Waste Management (DCWM), Ballito UIP, and the Local Government of Kwadukuza (KDM). The campaign is sponsored by Petco, the Presidential Stimulus Fund and Brownie Point, ensuring impact at all levels.
1. Litter4Tokens Recycling Station
Located in Willard Beach's lifesaving shed, this dedicated station will be housed with over 20 trained collectors who use the LitterHub app to classify, measure and recycle all packaging and recycle data in real time. Visitors are encouraged to support their recycling efforts by disposing of waste bins throughout the venue. Everything is clearly marked.
Plastic (Types 1, 2, 4, 5) Glass Tin & Corrugated Landfill (Styrofoam P6, LDPE 7, PVC 3, Food Waste)
The LitterHub app ensures real-time transparency by tracking.
Evade recycled waste landfills by job creation packaging type for CO2 and methane emission reduction communities
The long-term vision is to extend this model worldwide across all 20 global surf-freeg events, quantifying and visualizing the outcomes of a circular economy that benefits both people and planets.
2. Education Outreach
On-site recycling and education stations will host live demonstrations, tutorials and display real-time impact statistics through the LitterHub platform. This outreach aims to raise awareness about waste isolation, marine pollution, and how communities can support material recovery facilities.
3. Rebates and sponsorship
Recycled rebates generated through Ballito Pro fund directly the collection of over 1,000 sea-bound waste from across Kwadukuza. Each bag is rated R39 and covers personal protective equipment, training, tools and wages for waste collectors. Sponsors and partners can use the LitterHub or Trashtalk app to track transparent environmental, social and governance outcomes and support specific packaging recovery efforts.
4. Mermaid tear extermination race
Beach fans are invited to participate in the mermaid tier catcher competition. There, we collect harmful noodles from the sand using a specially designed mermaid tear-control sieve (which doubles as a Frisbee!) made from marine bound plastic. Noodles are round microplastics used to make plastic products. However, they are very similar to fish eggs, causing havoc in the marine ecosystem. All nururus collected enter the nururubin for weight and safe disposal. The cost is R50, or R90, each of the two mermaid tear-drilling catchers. All funds raised go directly to conservation efforts, and the collected data contributes to national research on nuldol contamination.
The prizes are as follows:
Ecosurfboards, rated by the R8 200 dining vouchers from Fiamma Grill, Concha Café and Coco de Mer, stay for two nights at Cavern Resort & Spa, including Drakensberg branded products.
Fast facts about Ballito Pro Conservation
2024:
Removed 3.56kg of noodles reused with 1,629kg of material collected from 694 recycled bags (over 57,000 pieces) and 2,481kg of emissions avoided only 472kg of material sent to landfills
Since 2015:
Litter4Tokens has prevented more than 3.67 million bags of marine waste and empowered nearly 1 million South Africans. With each Ballito Pro, the organization continues to lead the charging of cleaner oceans and stronger coastal communities.
Wessa Coastal Conservation Campaign
Wessa (South Africa's Wildlife Environment Association) will promote Blue Flag and Green Coast initiatives at Ballito Pro.
•Blue flag: Recognizes beaches that meet world-class environmental and safety standards. Kwadukuza has two full blue flag beaches, Britedale and Thompson Bay, while Salt Rock and Willard Beach have reviews on 2025/26.
•Green Coast: Supports ecotourism on ecologically sensitive beaches. Wessa runs campaigns such as Stop the Strangle (Ghost Fishing and Marine Debris) and African Black Oystercatcher Monitoring (a Civic Science Project that tracks birds exposed to this threat.
“Coastal conservation is a common responsibility across states and civil society,” said Mike Dennison, senior coastal manager at Wessa. “Programs like the Blue Flag and Green Coast will connect communities and municipalities around a common vision of protecting the marine environment.”
How to participate in environmental campaigns
Appropriately classify waste into dedicated bins across Ballito Pro. Volunteer in a Litter4Tokens tent. Participate in the Mermaid Tear Catcher Competition (R50 or R90 for Two) to win major prizes. It supports 22 Litter4Tokens sites in South Africa and provides revenue to nearly 1900 waste collectors. Sponsor specific packaging recovery efforts via the LitterHub or the Trashtalk app. Visit www.litter4tokens.org | www.litter4tokens.com | For more information, visit www.trash4tokens.org.
2025 Ballito Pro Festival Lineup
There is an incredible festival lineup that runs alongside the Ballito Pro, the world's longest professional surfing event, O'Neill. The 56th edition of this International Surf and Lifestyle Festival is a theme of maritime broadcasting to celebrate the unified power of sports and music, the two pillars of Ballito Pro. Don't miss the action!
The Battle of the Ballito Pro Music Concert DJS Competition Announced by the Corona Corona Sun Session Session Red Bull Activations Music & Instrument Program After Dark Program and Party ILEMBE SURF DEVELOPMENT RECORETIONAL ENTERTAINMENAL ENTERATENAL & RETALINAL WORKSHOPS & TROAINING COUR
Don't miss out on the action announced by O'Neill Festival in the 2025 Ballito Pro! #seasoundwaves
#ulwandle umsindo amagagasi
The Watch The Challenger series will air live on WorldSurfleague.com, the free WSL app and WSL's YouTube channel. Also, check out more about how you can watch from WSL's broadcast partners.
Find out more about Ballito Pro, announced by the O'Neill Festival program.
Website: www.theballitopro.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theballitopro/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theballitopro
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theballitopro
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theballitopro
Snapchat: Username – TheBallitopro
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