FRG26 EC Share Solidarity Citizen waste collection

On January 17, 2026, parents and residents of the island were invited to participate in a cleanup of the La Désirade Saltworks Educational Area (ATE). This community initiative, organized with the support of the Clean My Island association, brought together different generations around a common goal: preserving the coastline and protecting the island's environment. During the morning, participants collected a large amount of litter, including plastics, packaging, cans, and other debris that can cause lasting pollution of the soil and marine environment. Thanks to everyone's efforts, 280 kg of waste were collected at the Saltworks site. This initiative also raised awareness among residents about the consequences of pollution on biodiversity, particularly on species living in the coastal and marine areas of La Désirade. The Clean My Island association also offered an educational session to raise awareness among participants about the decomposition time of waste in nature. Residents and students learned that a single piece of paper can take several months to disappear, an aluminum can can remain in the environment for over 100 years, while a plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose. Cigarette butts, often discarded on the ground, pollute soils and oceans for many years. This information helped raise awareness of the impact of litter on the environment and the importance of reducing, sorting, and recycling our waste on a daily basis. Participants understood that the waste discarded today can remain in nature for generations to come. Beyond simply collecting litter, this initiative addressed real civic issues. It fostered a sense of responsibility and collective commitment among participants to protecting their local area. By involving families, children, and residents, this initiative encourages everyone to adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily lives and to become active participants in preserving their environment. This cleanup also strengthened the bonds between the island's inhabitants around shared values ​​such as solidarity, respect for nature, and the passing on of good practices to younger generations. Thanks to this collective effort, participants realized that every little bit helps to preserve the beauty and natural wealth of La Désirade for future generations.