Ragusa, at Passo Marinaro a sea of waste along the coast

A simple walk on the beach turned into a bitter photograph of the state of our coasts. This is what Andrea Di Priolo, from the Terre Pulite association, recounts after walking along the coastline between Passo Marinaro and the area of the former Club Med, two stretches of coast that are very close but today separated by an obvious difference: on one side a cleaned and dignified beach, on the other a shoreline suffocated by waste.

At Passo Marinaro, thanks to the work of volunteers, residents, and campers, the beach appears more cared for today. This result is the fruit of weeks of spontaneous clean-ups and a constant commitment from the local community. But just a few steps away, another scene awaits: on the beach of the former Club Med, the shoreline is invaded by plastic of all kinds. Bottles, pesticide containers, agricultural tarps, polyethylene tubes, fragments of polystyrene from fishing and horticulture, along with a myriad of microplastics.

“It’s a painful scene – recounts Di Priolo –. On one side, you see what the care of people can do, on the other, you find yourself facing a wall of plastic that the sea returns to us. It’s impossible to remain indifferent.”

According to Terre Pulite, the majority of the waste does not come from the beach itself, but from the sea: materials abandoned or lost that the currents carry to the shore. This phenomenon repeats every year and highlights the fragility of the marine ecosystem.

“In front of all this, you wish you had a magic wand – continues Di Priolo –. I would never stop: I would collect plastic non-stop just to restore dignity to these wonderful places. But the truth is simple: if we abandon waste, sooner or later the sea returns it to us. There are no shortcuts.”

The association reiterates that the solution cannot be entrusted only to volunteers, but requires a cultural change and a greater sense of collective responsibility. “Prevention is the only way. Do not abandon waste, reduce the use of plastic, properly dispose of agricultural materials and those related to fishing. These are gestures that make a difference.”

Di Priolo concludes with a call: “This coast is a treasure for everyone. If we want it to remain alive and beautiful, we must take care of it every day.”