Last Saturday was a win for Malta’s marine environment, as two coastal cleanups – at Xemxija and Manoel Island – saw a combined 4.75 tonnes of rubbish hauled out of the sea by two of the island’s most active environmental organisations.

At Manoel Island, Coast is Clear collected 3,415 kgs of waste from the murky waters of the marina bay, in just three hours!

They left the marina with 2 skips packed with some of the usual suspects, including tyres, ropes and fishing nets, but also found some truly unexpected objects too – such as a bicycle, car battery, radio, and even a cash register. Other things they found included a push chair, deck chairs, and – get this – a boat! On top of all that, they also picked up 880 kg of glass bottles.

Żibel, on the other hand, tackled Xemxija Bay for the second time, joined by some new faces eager to get involved, and picked up the following: 324 kg of fishing gear, 219 kg of plastic, 6 kg of glass, 166 kg of metal and 621 kg of mixed waste.  

Both Coast is Clear and Żibel are proving that community action really does make a difference. Not only are they giving our seas a much-needed breather, but they’re also creating opportunities for people to connect, contribute, and protect the places we all love.

Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or a seasoned sea-cleaner, everyone’s welcome. Want to get involved? Check out their Facebook pages to join their next clean-up and be part of something meaningful.

Well done to everyone involved in these cleanups!