Success for LET’S CLEAN UP EUROPE in the Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean

Success for LET’S CLEAN UP EUROPE in the Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean: 126 kg of waste collected

Nearly 200 participants collected 126 kg of waste in protected natural areas in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Occitania in a simultaneous action to raise awareness about waste generation.

The Euroregion Pirineus Mediterranean participated for the fifth consecutive year in the European initiative Let’s Clean Up Europe (LCUE) with a waste collection day in natural environments, held today, Friday, October 3. The aim of the initiative is to raise public awareness of the effects of pollution and promote sustainable habits throughout Europe.

In this edition, in which several schools participated, simultaneous clean-up operations were carried out in three protected coastal natural areas, where a total of 126 kg of waste was collected, mainly plastics, fishing materials, cigarette butts, and glass.

The day also included educational activities aimed at students, with the aim of reinforcing the educational and environmental impact of the initiative. Highlights included the workshop on microplastics run by the University of Barcelona and Plastic at Sea, as part of the TRAP project of the East Coast Functional Area, as well as the dynamization promoted by the Euroregional Youth Assembly. Thanks to these workshops, students have been able to understand how microplastics are formed and the measures that can be taken to reduce their impact. In addition, cooperation between educational centers in different regions is being promoted, as a virtual session is planned for November 28 between schools in the three territories to share the conclusions of the collection.

The Euroregion considers the involvement of citizens, especially young people, to be essential in building a more sustainable future.

Initiatives such as LCUE enable the Euroregion to reaffirm its objectives in terms of protecting and restoring the natural environment for a resilient shared future by 2030.

Below are the participants and results in the protected natural areas of Let’s Clean Up Europe:

• Sa Font de n’Alis, Mondragó Natural Park, Mallorca (Balearic Islands): 37 participants, mainly students from CEIP Santa Maria del Mar. Assistance from Bàrbara Xamena, Councilor for the Environment of Santanyí, Gabriel Bardi, Head of the Quality and Environmental Education Service, Marta Cano, Manager of the Balearic Islands Foundation for External Action, Gràcia Salas, Director of the Park, Xavier Bernard Sans, Secretary General of the Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean. 4 kg collected.

• Cala Montjoi, Cap de Creus Natural Park (Catalonia): 53 participants, mainly students from the Empordà School Center. Attended by Marc Vilahur, Director General of Environmental Policy, Josep Maria Martínez, Mayor of Roses, Fèlix Llorens, Deputy Mayor, Ponç Feliu, Director of the Park, Alfred Vara, head of the Department of Prevention and Efficiency at the Catalan Waste Agency, Josep Maria Godoy, head of the Alt Empordà Educational Service. 85 kg collected.

• Petit Travers, Site de l’Étang de l’Or (Occitània): 87 participants, mainly students from the Philippe Lamour and l’Etang d’Or secondary schools. Assistance from Lisa Dossmann, head of sustainable beach management, and Guillaume Da Silva, head of natural spaces for the Communauté d’agglomération du Pays de l Or, Philippe Peries, administrative and financial manager of the Euroregion Pirineus Mediterrània, and Inès Lezin-Ouzemri, head of European and international relations for the Occitània Region. 37 kg collected.

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