Nets to collect waste installed on the beach in Théoule-sur-Mer

If you walk on the beach, in Théoule-sur-Mer, you may see a big black fillet. It is along the pedestrian promenade, where the sand begins and was installed this Thursday, May 12.

“It’s a highly evolved net: 80% of the waste comes from the ground and passes through the rainwater networks. Rather than looking for them in the wild, which is hard to do, _we said to ourselves that we were going to install a trap at the outlet of the rainwater networks_. When it rains, the waste is pushed into the network towards the exit and at that time, the net is installed, it is a trap that will retain between 400 and 500 kg of waste for that one. Other nets can hold up to three tonnes of waste,” explains Stéphane Asikian, co-founder of the Pollustock company, which invented the device.

An initiative of the CM2 of Théoule-sur-Mer

Installing this net in Théoule-sur-Mer means the idea of ​​young Théouliens, the pupils of CM2 of the primary school of the commune, very invested in ecology. They are made aware of coastal protectionat school : “We learned things about marine habitats and we try to find solutions to stop waste and that they do not pollute the sea“, explains Lohan. From the large piece of plastic to the tiny cigarette butt, it is essential to protect the environment for Annaë: “It’s the sea! We don’t want to kill the fish, it’s natural to see them live and swim in them!“, opinion shared by Ryan: “If we don’t do ecology, there will be pollution everywhere, it’s not good for animals and for us too, humans.”

Once a month they are out in the field tracking down waste, under the amused eye of their teacher, Séverine Bossart: “Now, when we walk along the coast, they allow themselves to say to people: your butt is 500 liters of polluted water! It’s really their initiative!“

More ecology all along the coast

The goal clearly displayed by David Lisnard, president of the Cannes Lérins agglomeration is in any case very clear: we need more ecology on the entire coast! “We have set up robot cleaners in some Cannes ports, we have set up fish nurseries, there are 75 in all, and we are already finding species that we no longer saw! And then of course, _we raise awareness_. The best waste is the one we don’t produce.”