Żibel clean-ups are not just about the pick up and disposing of waste, but a holistic vision which encompasses action, education and recycling. Żibel has been carrying out a series of clean-ups in Xemxija Bay in order to tackle the heavy volumes of waste deposited in the bay. Since 2017, Żibel has removed over 20 tonnes from Xemxija Bay, with each KG being categorised and recorded.

Throughout these clean-ups in 2025, Żibel has been creating a VR experience video for education in schools and public workshops, showing the state of the bay before, during and after the clean-up. This gives the audience a feel for what the divers and volunteers encounter, as well as an introduction to diving and clean-ups in general.

Żibel has also kept all the plastic gathered from it’s clean-ups since 2018, including those of Xemxija. The plastic gathered from the 2025 clean-ups is now being shredded at Żibel’s studio, in preparation for washing and recycling into new objects. The marine plastic is all sorted, shredded and then washed, with the material being fed into machines which will create recycled marine plastic objects using specialised machinery.

All this will be showcased during the week of 22–30 November, through a series of social media posts surrounding:

1. Cleanup & Data from Xemxija – Drawing from three consecutive cleanups at Xemxija, our most littered site (total of 21,887.53 tons since 2017), we will visualise real data to show the scale of waste and it’s composition. Żibel has also given the fishermen in the area a bin for their nylon, polystyrene and plastics so that they can be recycled by Żibel directly.→ Links to Theme 3.1.1 Strict avoidance and reduction at sourceBy presenting real cleanup data from Xemxija, we raise awareness about the quantity and types of waste being generated and discarded, directly encouraging reduction at the source. This content will encourage citizens to reflect on their consumption habits, re-think their choices e.g. avoiding single-use plastics. This aligns with EWWR’s goal of reducing waste before it is created. The bin also gives the opportunity for fishermen to form part of this holistic vision.

   → Links to Theme 3.1.4 Clean-Ups

   The Xemxija clean-ups are at the core of this action. By collecting waste dumped in areas and communicating the results to the public, we highlight the impact of littering and promote sustainable waste management. The cleanups not only remove waste but also serve as a platform to spread EWWR’s key message: that everyone shares responsibility for waste prevention and reduction. This year alone, across the four cleanup events held in Xemxija between February and November, a total of 259 participants took part, including 62 divers. The cleanups attracted a diverse group of volunteers representing up to 34 different nationalities. Attendance varied throughout the year, with 41 participants joining in February, 92 in April, 79 in October, and 47 in November.

   Everything that was collected was also sorted and weighed. These are the figures:

   Plastic Bottles = 359.74kg (Quantity: 1,462 bottles)

   Ropes & Fishing Line = 1,423.00kg

   Jerry Cans & Drums = 68.60kg (Quantity: 34)

   Cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons (plastic) = 41.96kg

   Foam and Jablo = 12.86kg

   Hard Plastic Fragments = 350.20kg

   Plastic Bags = 98.82kg

   Glass Bottles = 74.13kg (Quantity: 356)

   Metal Batteries = 26.50kg

   Metal Fragments = 636.75kg

   Cans = 56.08kg (Quantity: 438)

   Rubber Tires = 447.00kg

   Wood = 64.08kg

   Cloth = 694.90kg

   Everything else (uncategorised/miscellaneous waste) = 1,174.04kg

   Other Items = 511.78kg

   TOTAL = 6,040.44kg

2. Virtual Reality for Environmental Education – Through our VR Experience, underwater 360 footage is giving students and citizens a chance to “dive” beneath the surface see the issues firsthand, without actually going underwater yet once again, being exposed to the reality of waste issues and educating them to hopefully encourage further reduction.
3. The Plastic Afterlife – After years of collecting marine litter since 2017, Żibel has begun washing, sorting, and shredding plastics (something that has been in the works for some time now) to eventually be remoulded and create new recycled pieces; the next phase of the project.
   • We are collaborating with our network of student volunteers who have gotten the chance to contribute to this system by helping us out sort plastics and shredding them using our shredder. Here they also understand that steps needed in this recycling process.
   • This marks a “full circle” moment, with student volunteers now helping to process the same plastics they once removed from the sea.

   → Links to Theme 3.1.3 Waste sorting and recycling

   Our student volunteers take part in sorting and preparing marine plastics for recycling, learning how to properly manage materials and understand the recycling loop. This educational, hands-on involvement supports EWWR’s theme of improving waste sorting behaviour and explaining how recycling contributes to resource conservation.

   • Żibel is currently the only local organisation implementing this, encouraging a new generation to view waste as a valuable resource.
   • The Żibel Tribe Bin network is accessible for all members or the public and also used by groups such as Nature Trust, Birdlife, sailing clubs and other marine stakeholders.

→ Links to Theme 3.1.2 Reuse and preparing for reuse

This demonstrates that materials can have a second life. The plastics collected during cleanups are being prepared for reuse rather than disposal. This links to EWWR’s focus on extending the life of products and promoting creative reuse.

This initiative exemplifies what EWWR is about: reduction, reusing and recycling/re-imagining.