In a series of recent beach cleanup events held across Cyprus, beachgoers and volunteers came together to collect more than 110 kilograms of waste as part of the "Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free" project.

According to a press release, the events kicked off with summer parties at the "Plastic-Free Beaches" of Agia Thekla in Famagusta district on July 28, and SODAP Beach in Paphos on August 11. Beachgoers had the opportunity to participate in contests focused on plastic pollution, join in waste collection efforts, and win reusable water bottles. The final event took place at the "Plastic-Free Beach" of Skoutari in Paralimni, where volunteers from the Famagusta region helped clean the beach.

Significant collaboration with local authorities, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, and the island’s tourism industry was crucial in organizing these events, it is noted.

The initiative continues with a major summer contest inviting the public to collect as much trash as possible from beaches for a chance to win a relaxation package for two at the Casale Panayiotis Hotel & Spa. Interested participants can find more details about the contest on the Instagram account @sandseaplasticfree.

In a statement, Philippos Drousiotis, President of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), stressed the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders in the tourism industry, including beachgoers, to achieve the goal of plastic-free beaches and seas.

Panayiota Koutsoufta, Director of the "Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free" project, highlighted the alarming fact that the average person consumes 5 grams of plastic per week, which is the size of a credit card.

"This plastic enters the food chain, affecting both marine life and our health. This summer, let’s be the change we wish to see. We can all start by bringing our own water bottle to the beach. And if that beach is also a 'Plastic-Free Beach,' then we’ll have access to free, cold, and filtered water," Koutsoufta said.

The "Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free" project aims to engage tourists, businesses, and locals in reducing single-use plastics along the coastline, striving to lessen plastic pollution in the seas.

The initiative is part of the TUI Care Foundation's "Destination Zero Waste" programme and is implemented in collaboration with the CSTI. It seeks to discover new ways to reduce and reuse waste, thereby creating new jobs and promoting a circular economy in Cyprus.