Young Eco-Warriors Take Action: Menorca Students Lead Mediterranean Plastic Cleanup
Secondary students across Spain’s Balearic Islands are mobilizing as frontline defenders against plastic pollution through Menorca Preservation’s innovative environmental program. Now in its sixth year, the “Kilometers of Plastic for Iris” campaign aims to remove one ton of plastic waste from Mediterranean coastlines while creating lasting behavioral change among young participants.
A Collaborative Environmental Mission
The initiative brings together three established environmental organizations – Menorca Preservation, Ibiza Preservation, and Mallorca Preservation – leveraging their combined expertise in marine conservation. Rebecca Morris, director of Menorca Preservation, explains: “Our previous editions proved students become powerful change agents when given practical tools. This year we’re emphasizing teamwork to amplify impact.”
Beyond Cleanups: Science Meets Activism
Participating classes will conduct coastal excursions while employing scientific methodology:
- Weighing and analyzing collected waste
- Cataloging findings in the Universal Plastic (UP) research application
- Documenting pollution patterns through standardized metrics
This citizen science component transforms casual cleanups into valuable research contributing to global pollution databases. Alba Carbonell, co-founder of partner organization 0 Plastic, observes: “Experiential learning helps students grasp plastic’s hidden lifecycle – from production to environmental persistence lasting centuries.”
Training Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders
Registered classes receive comprehensive educational resources:
- Digital training kits explaining plastic typologies and microplastic risks
- Live sessions on plastic’s environmental and health impacts
- Practical guides for reducing single-use plastics in daily life
Students earning the “0 Plastic Warriors” designation demonstrate mastery of both cleanup techniques and pollution prevention strategies.
Motivation Through Recognition
The 2024 campaign introduces tiered incentives:
- Years 1-2: Kayak expeditions and underwater photography workshops
- Years 3-4: €1,000 contributions toward educational trips
Awards will be presented during World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8) celebrations, aligning student achievements with global environmental observances.
A Legacy of Environmental Stewardship
The campaign honors Iris Goldsmith (2002-2019), a young conservationist whose family helped establish the participating foundations. Since its 2019 launch, the initiative has:
- Engaged over 3,000 students across the Balearics
- Removed 5+ metric tons of coastal plastic
- Contributed data to 12 published environmental studies
Educational institutions can register through the official campaign website, joining a growing network of Mediterranean schools combating what the UN Environment Programme calls “one of the most severe anthropogenic threats to marine ecosystems.”
Source: Menorca.info
Images Credit: www.menorca.info