Why a Clean-Up?

86% of the collected waste consists of plastic. It can break down into smaller and smaller pieces until it is no longer visible to the naked eye (microplastics), but it remains in the water or in the soil. Washed out by rain and carried through the water cycle, these fragments can then end up in our rivers, lakes and finally in the seas. Waste also impacts wildlife, which can mistake it for food, with serious consequences. This is also how some plastics enter our food chain.

Even a single cigarette butt, despite its small size, releases over 150 toxic substances into the environment. These substances can seep into water sources and harm aquatic life. Even organic waste, although biodegradable, can alter the balance of ecosystems by introducing or attracting non-native species and spreading diseases. For all these reasons, it is important to pick up all waste found in nature, from the largest to the smallest, and leave no trace of your visit.