More than 250 volunteers gathered in the Dhekelia area of Larnaca for a two-day clean-up on November 5 and 17, united in their aim to protect the island’s marine and coastal environment.
Volunteers from four local communities joined forces to clear waste from shorelines and seabeds across Dhekelia, Ormidia, and Xylophagou.
“Each year, this initiative brings together people who genuinely care about the environment,” Dhekelia area administration officer Maria Pieri-Kyriakidou said, expressing gratitude to the participants for their efforts.
A total of 185.56kg of marine litter was collected, with the most common items being plastic containers, glass bottles, metal cans and plastic wrappers.
Although this amount is significantly lower than last year’s 437kg, marine litter remains a persistent challenge.
“The cooperation between local authorities, environmental organisations and the community shows that, through shared effort, we can protect our coastline and marine habitats,” Pieri-Kyriakidou added.
Marios Papageorgiou, director of the Enalia Physis environmental research centre, said marine litter is one of the most visible impacts of human activity on nature, noting that reducing it requires awareness and collective responsibility.
“Every clean-up is a reminder that protecting the sea starts with individual action and community cooperation,” he said.
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