Greece’s imposing, clear-blue beaches that are enjoyed by millions of visitors every summer are drowning in trash and plastic with the situation across the Mediterranean being no better, a new report finds.
The report, published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on March 6, paints a bleak picture on the pollution that’s taking a hold of Greece’s beaches. From data collected across 192 beaches in the country between 2021 and 2024, none fulfills the minimum threshold of 20 pieces of trash for every 100 meters of coast to be considered clean, according to the relevant European directive. Instead, WWF’s study detected an average of 464 pieces of trash for every 100 meters of coast, a number that’s multiple times above the minimum requirements. In total, 298,000 pieces of trash were collected for every 100 meters of coast in the 192 beaches studied between 2021 and 2024.
What makes the report’s findings even more worrisome is that the vast majority of trash found (83 percent) is plastic, with cigarette butts holding the top spot, followed by plastic caps, plastic bottles, plastic bags, pieces of styrofoam and others.
WWF further notes that half of all trash objects collected from Greece’s beaches between 2021 and 2024 comprise of only five objects: cigarette butts (25 percent), small pieces of plastic (between 2.5 and 50 centimeters), plastic caps, straws and pieces of styrofoam.
Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems of the modern world, with serious consequences for biodiversity, human health and the economy. Plastic waste breaks down into microplastics, which pose an unseen risk as microscopic plastic particles enter the food chain through marine life, resulting in impacts on human health. Moreover, in countries like Greece, beaches and coastal areas that are crucial elements of the tourism product, deteriorate when there’s a continuous increase in plastic waste.
WWF’s report is part of a “citizen science” program, which in Greece began in 2021 and is called “Adopt a Beach.” The program has so far mobilized 173 teams of volunteers across the country, who are trained by WWF staff in the detection and registration of trash in the 192 beaches they have so far “adopted.”
The program has been expanded to Turkey, Tunisia and Italy and offers a clearer picture on the scale of the problem across the Mediterranean, where 338 beaches were studied between 2023 and 2024 and the findings are just as discouraging. Data showed that 83 percent of the pollution is due to the presence of plastics, with glass, metal and paper following in much smaller concentrations.
“The data in the study highlight an utterly disappointing and alarming picture for the beaches of Greece and those of the Mediterranean. The collection of data through the precious help of our volunteers in four Mediterranean countries gives us the ability to have a platform with public and easily accessible scientific data…It’s up to the governments to decide if they will use them and take action or continue to hide behind the argument that ‘there’s a lack of data,’” Konstantinos Tsoukalas, WWF’s Head of “Adopt a Beach” says.
Plastic pollution leads to microplastics in our seafood dishes
Microplastics are classified as plastics smaller than 0.2 inches in length. These tiny particles gradually disintegrate from larger plastic items, progressively accumulating in areas where plastics are discarded. Numerous studies have documented the detrimental effects of microplastic consumption. They are linked to serious health issues such as cancer and hormone disruption.
Recent research from PSU aligns with the longstanding discovery trend concerning the effects of plastic pollution. This study specifically examines the US West Coast, yet scientists indicate that similar conditions are present throughout the US and globally.
Out of 182 samples tested, the team confirmed that 180 of the specimens were polluted with not only microplastics but anthropogenic particles in general. Anthropogenic particles, which are human-made particulates, are released into the environment from products created by humans. The study identified 1,806 of these particles present in all the fish examined.
According to the study, smaller fish contain more microplastics than larger ones. The team hypothesizes that this could be because most of the smaller creatures are filter feeders, and they have seen that pattern in other research.
“We found that the smaller organisms that we sampled seem to be ingesting more anthropogenic, non-nutritious particles,” said Granek. “Shrimp and small fish, like herring, are eating smaller food items like zooplankton. Other studies have found high concentrations of plastics in the area in which zooplankton accumulate, and these anthropogenic particles may resemble zooplankton and thus be taken up for animals that feed on zooplankton.”
The scientists made another peculiar discovery. Results show fish tested from the supermarket had more microplastics than fish caught straight out of the boat. The find suggests that the longer it takes for the fish to hit the shelf, the more particulates it contains. It also suggests that most contaminants stay in the fish’s edible meat.