A major environmental cleanup on Mykonos has exposed the scale of plastic and other waste accumulating along the island’s coastline and seabed, with nearly 767 kilograms of rubbish removed during four cleanup operations.
The work was carried out as part of the Plastic Free Greece 2026 initiative, which returned to Mykonos from July 1 to 3 with four separate operations.
Two focused on the coastline, while two were underwater cleanups involving divers.
Hundreds of kilos pulled from the seabed
The coastal operations took place at Korfos, on the western side of Mykonos near Ornos and Chora, and on Rhenia, the uninhabited island opposite Delos.
Together, the coastal cleanups collected approximately 22 kilograms of waste.
Plastic accounted for around 36% of the material collected, while bottle caps and rings represented another 17%.
The underwater operations revealed a far more serious problem.
Cleanups were conducted at the small harbour of Divounia, between Paraga and Kalafatis, and at the popular harbour of Ornos.
Divers recovered approximately 744.6 kilograms of waste from the seabed.
Divounia accounted for the largest share, with around 512.5 kilograms removed from the water.
Among the objects recovered were 10 large vehicle tyres, including tyres from tractors or trucks, as well as a drone.
Plastic bottles and aluminium cans were also found in large numbers, together accounting for more than 30% of the underwater waste.
A warning beneath Mykonos’ glamorous image
The findings highlight a sharp contrast between Mykonos’ famous beaches and tourism industry and the pollution accumulating beneath the surface.
While the coastal areas generally presented a more encouraging picture, the condition of parts of the seabed showed that waste management remains a major challenge.
The organisers stressed that cleanup operations alone cannot solve the problem.
They said a broader cultural shift is needed among both residents and visitors, alongside better waste collection, recycling and protection of the marine environment.
The Plastic Free Greece 2026 campaign will continue in September, with further cleanups planned in Skiathos and Lesvos.
Source: ProtoThema.gr
