Major seabed clean up in eight locations

A record number of over 250 volunteers and 42 organisations have teamed up with GreenPak to make the fourth annual seabed clean up Malta’s largest clean up ever.

“It is like cleaning up after a party. Following the busy summer months, the sea needs cleaning up otherwise all the rubbish will be scattered in the marine environment by winter storms,” said Mario Schembri, CEO of Green Dot Malta Ltd, operators of the GreenPak packaging recovery scheme.

Green Dot Malta is the organisation at the forefront of organising this event aimed at creating a healthier and cleaner environment.

“Throughout the year, GreenPak recovers millions of kilogrammes of packaging from the waste stream and diverts them away from landfill and towards recycling.

On a day-to-day basis, GreenPak collects waste materials directly from households, companies and hotels. This event gives us the opportunity to focus the public’s attention to the reckless behaviour of some individuals. It is incredible what types of rubbish are gathered from the seabed during our annual clean up drives. We are thankful to all the organisations and individuals that are once again generously supporting our drive to clean our seas, Mr Schembri said.

He said this year, GreenPak chose to think globally and act locally, by extending its annual clean up event to cover eight locations around Malta and Gozo.

By coordinating a clean up of such magnitude, GreenPak is highlighting an important message: through the public utilisation of recycling facilities, the majority of plastics, paper and glass can be prevented from entering our seas and this avoids adding to this global phenomenon.

Various Local Councils supported this event and a number of diving localities have benefitted from the Clean up. The Local Councils which took part include St. Paul’s Bay (Fekruna – Xemxija/Gillieru area , Qrendi (Wied iz-Zurrieq), Sliema (Exiles), St Julians (Dragonara Reef), Marsascala (Zonqor) Munxar (Xlendi), Zebbug Gozo (Marsalforn).

Various diving schools and clubs also lent a hand.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Chris Said visited the volunteers at Xlendi and Marsalforn and opposition tourism spokesman Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca at Wied iz-Zurrieq.