It is estimated that millions of tonnes of plastic waste enter the oceans every year, threatening marine life and coastal ecosystems. Currently, more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the sea, some of which have been there since 1977. 

We’ve all come across cigarette butts buried in the sand, wrappers scattered across the beach, or other types of plastic being swept away by the tide. Nowadays, spending a day at the beach without encountering litter is rare, if not impossible. We know that waste gets there through rivers, sewage, road drainage systems, discharges from ships, fishing activities, and oil and gas exploration.

While combating this issue must start at the source, by preventing more plastic from entering the seas, it is also necessary to deal with the waste already in the oceans. With that in mind, in this 5th edition of “CleanUp Aveiro”, we once again organised a series of Beach Clean-up Campaigns! This year’s clean-ups focused on Praia da Costinha and Praia da Vagueira, both located in the Municipality of Ílhavo. These peaceful beaches, with their well-preserved dune systems, are often found littered with waste, mostly brought in by the waves and tides. We covered an area of around 172,000 square metres, the equivalent of 24 football pitches, resulting in the collection of over 1 tonne of litter. The goal was clear: to reduce the impact of waste on the beach and raise awareness of the crucial role each of us can play in protecting our planet.

To start things off, on Saturday 17 May, we teamed up with Bresimar Automação S.A., a company specialising in industrial automation, systems, and solutions based in Aveiro, for the first Clean-up Campaign at Praia da Costinha. 25 of the company’s employees, together with members and volunteers from Agora Aveiro, geared up with gloves, bags, and plenty of enthusiasm, and set off across the sand to collect as much litter as possible. From tyres and fishing nets to bottles and more, we made a concerted effort to make the beach cleaner.

The second campaign took place the following Tuesday morning, on 10 June, in partnership with Bosch Termotecnologia, one of Europe’s largest companies, with a business unit in Aveiro focused on residential water heating, mobile applications, and remote vehicle diagnostics. 29 of the company’s employees, accompanied by members and volunteers from Agora Aveiro, gathered at one of the entrances to Praia da Vagueira to begin the clean-up. Over approximately two hours, they covered as wide an area as possible, always respecting the dunes and nesting areas. The initiative also featured the presence of the “Guardiões da Natureza” (“Nature Guardians”), who ran fun and educational activities for children, covering topics such as overfishing, ocean acidification, and the issue of microplastics.

Both clean-ups were a success, not only because of the significant amount of waste collected, but also thanks to the spirit of cooperation, dedication, and environmental awareness shown by all participants. Despite the positive impact of these actions, the harsh reality of marine pollution remains ever-present. Data from 2023 from REA - Portugal’s Environmental Status Portal - reveal that 88% of the waste found on beaches is plastic, followed by sanitary items (6%) and paper and cardboard (2%). These figures reflect not only excessive consumption and irresponsible disposal, but also the fragility of our waste management systems. In our clean-ups, plastic bottles, fast food packaging, bags, straws, cotton buds, bottle caps, octopus traps, fishing nets, ropes, shotgun cartridges, and cigarette butts were among the most commonly found items. Each piece collected told a story of carelessness and neglect, but also represented an opportunity for awareness and change.

CleanUp Aveiro brings together the efforts of the community - individuals, associations, companies, and other organisations - around a common goal: to make our streets, forests, and beaches cleaner places. This is just one of the activities we are developing under the wider project, with Ria clean-ups and cigarette butt collections taking place across the city and surrounding areas, thanks to collaborations with the Escola Profissional de Aveiro and the school groups Dr. Mário Sacramento and José Estêvão.

These initiatives remind us that we all have a part to play. Whether by avoiding single-use plastics, picking up the litter we find, calling out those who drop rubbish on the ground, or joining campaigns like this one, every action counts. Pollution is caused by humans, but it can also be tackled by human hands. Together, we can protect the environment and the planet. We’re doing our part, and we’re counting on you to do yours!