Six hundred and fifty kilos of waste were collected from the coastline and from the seabed during the `Zero Waste Beach` campaign between May-July 2019.
According to a press release, a total of four cleaning campaigns took place at the sea bottom and 17 along the coastline of the island. The program is being implemented by AKTI Project and Research Centre and Coca-Cola / Lanitis Branches, with the support of the Coca-Cola Foundation.
This summer Coca-Cola contributes 15% of the net proceeds from the sale of its collectible glass bottle to the cleaning campaign.
This year`s coastline cleanup involved 420 volunteers, children and adults, and the waste collected amounted to 18,000 or 650 kilos. 60% of the waste were cigarette butts, 24% plastic, 7% paper, 3% metallic, 3% mixed, 1% hygiene and medical waste and 1% glass.
Waste recording and source separation were based on the International Ocean Conservancy Protocol.
All data is imported into the Ocean Conservancy`s data platform to serve as a basis for data comparison and future research. The coast and sea bed cleaning campaign will continue in September.
This year`s effort by AKTIS and Lanitis / Coca-Cola Branches focuses on expanding the Network companies involved to 200. So far 130 companies are participating in the program.
The Director of Communication and Public Relations of the Branches of Lanitis, Kalia Patsia, said that she’s proud of the results and welcomed the interest shown by companies to join the cleaning network.
Xenia Loizidou, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the AKTI Project and Research Centre said that next Autumn a total of six seabed cleaning campaigns will be carried out. During the May-July campaign, the volunteers cleaned reefs in the districts of Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol and Famagusta. “We want to thank everyone who participated in the cleanups and contributed to our efforts. We need to be more aware and sensitive in these issues and try to produce less waste that ends up in the sea, ” she added.
“Zero Waste Beach” focuses on five key areas:
- Reducing waste from Cyprus` coastal and maritime areas
- Promoting innovative and sustainable practices by companies, local authorities and the public,
- Establish annual clean-up campaigns involving coastal businesses, schools and volunteers including staff from Lanitis Branch
- Identifying and recording recyclable waste generated by companies,
- Raising public awareness on the issue of marine pollution
