This past weekend, a dedicated group of 37 volunteers gathered together to support the NGO Żibel in their mission to clean up Xemxija Bay. Their hard work and perseverance resulted in the collection of a staggering 2.05 tonnes of waste from both the waters and surrounding areas of the bay.

The team of divers conducted two successful dives, pulling up numerous bags filled with waste, as well as ropes, tyres, and other debris. After sorting the collected trash, the breakdown was as follows - 535.9kg of fishing gear, 374.9kg of plastic, 309.2kg of metal, 8.4kg of glass, and 820.5kg of mixed waste. These numbers highlight the overwhelming amount of waste that finds its way into our seas, polluting the very waters we treasure and will soon be swimming in.

The efforts of Żibel and its volunteers are a critical part of restoring and protecting our environment, and it’s inspiring to see so many people come together to make a tangible difference. However, this cleanup serves as a reminder to all of us: preventing waste from entering the seas in the first place is the most important step. It’s up to every individual to do their part in ensuring that our seas and coastlines remain clean and healthy for generations to come.

Have you ever participated in a cleanup of this kind?