Italian coastal municipalities roll out marine‑waste awareness campaigns

In the Salento region of southern Italy, Ercav Srl launched the "SOS, il mare non merita i tuoi rifiuti" project, featuring a two‑metre‑high papier‑mâché turtle named Lina. The mobile art installation, built by award‑winning cartapesta artist Deni Bianco, moves along the beaches of five coastal towns from mid‑July to early September 2026, displaying a metal net to symbolize the collection of plastic bottles and other waste.

In Naples, glass‑industry association Assovetro partnered with environmental group Legambiente for the Goletta Verde campaign. Activities on a docked boat and in Piazza del Municipio invited children, families and tourists to learn about glass recycling through interactive games and to pledge personal commitments to protect the sea. "The sea should not be seen as separate from daily life," said Walter Da Riz, Assovetro’s director.