Greece is famous for its myriad golden beaches, but anti-garbage campaigners are mobilizing to sweep up a deluge of plastic which is ruining some of the country’s greatest assets.
Thirty volunteers from Plastic Free Greece recently went to Kavouri beach near Athens to clear away plastic trash which had been allowed to accumulate, raising questions for the local authorities.
The initiative at Kavouri has grown at an explosive rate after organizers put out an appeal on Facebook for people to join their effort in keeping the sands clean, particularly for children.
Plastic Free Greece says consumers in the country used a total of 4.3 billion plastic bags in 2016, which averages to about 400 bags for every man, woman and child.
Although there is a plastic-bag tax now in Greece, it is still only a tiny fraction of bags which get recycled.
The environmental group also launched an app in November 2017 which lets people know when a beach clean is happening in their areas.
Video of volunteers cleaning Kavouri beach.
Last week, there were 4 of us. Today it was close to 30 people (including children) and a quad bike! Kavouri beach still needs work. It would also help if the big bins weren't overflowing with trash so that it isn't being blown there by the wind. It is not just coming from the sea or lazy people on the beach. Can we contact the rubbish contractors?
Posted by Lisa Spykers on Sunday, March 11, 2018
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