Larvotto clean-up nets 30kg of waste, 530 cigarette butts
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Volunteers at Monaco's Larvotto marine reserve collected 30 kilograms of rubbish and 530 cigarette butts in a single hour during the annual beach clean-up.
The protected underwater area at Larvotto was the scene of this year's annual clean-up organised by the Association Monégasque pour la Protection de la Nature. In just one hour, volunteers combing the sand and shallows pulled out 30 kilograms of waste, including 530 cigarette butts left behind on one of the Principality's most frequented beaches.
The figures echo previous years' results, with the association noting that despite repeated appeals and growing public awareness campaigns, the volume of litter collected barely changes from one edition to the next. Cigarette butts remain the most common item found, posing a particular threat to the marine life within the protected zone just metres from the shoreline.
For residents and regular beachgoers at Larvotto, the clean-up serves as an annual reminder of the gap between environmental intentions and everyday habits in one of Monaco's busiest coastal spots. The AMPN has not announced changes to its approach, but the consistency of the figures each year raises questions about whether voluntary clean-ups alone can shift behaviour on the beach.