EVENTS: Beach Litter: in Bari, the future of the adriatic lies in technological innovation and a culture of the sea
Beach Litter: in Bari, the future of the adriatic lies in technological innovation and a culture of the sea
The Apulia Region, ARPA, the Polytechnic University of Bari, Acquedotto Pugliese and associations in dialogue: “A paradigm shift is needed-from technical solutions to collective responsibility.”
Bari, 5 February 2026 – Beach litter represents an environmental, economic and cultural challenge that calls for integrated approaches, innovative solutions and a shared vision. This was the central theme of the workshop “Beach litter: challenges, impacts and shared solutions,” held at the headquarters of the Apulia Region in Bari.
The meeting took place within the framework of the European project BLUECIRCLE – Interreg IPA ADRION, promoted by the Apulia Region, and brought together institutions, the scientific community, public bodies and associations to discuss new models for managing beach litter, based on technological innovation, transnational cooperation and the active participation of communities. At the heart of the discussions was the testing of an innovative mobile plant, developed in collaboration with the DICATECh Department of the Polytechnic University of Bari, designed to operate directly near beaches and separate sand and biomass – such as posidonia – from plastic and anthropogenic waste, promoting material recovery and reducing landfill disposal.
Opening the proceedings, the Apulia Region’s Councillor for the Environment, Debora Ciliento, stressed the need to accompany technological innovation with a profound cultural shift, grounded in individual and collective responsibility for protecting the sea:
“Our waste culture must change starting from the very language we use: talking about ecology means taking personal responsibility. When the sea returns waste to us, it is telling us that something is not working. New technologies are essential, but without upstream prevention and shared choices, we cannot transform waste into a resource nor truly reduce environmental impact.”
During the workshop, Paolo Francesco Garofoli, Director of the Apulia Region’s Department for Environment, Landscape and Urban Quality, outlined the strategic vision behind the initiative, highlighting the value of scientific collaboration in testing innovative models for the recovery of beach litter, with environmental and economic benefits for coastal areas.
The technological aspects and benefits of the project’s prototype were explored in depth by Michele Notarnicola, Professor at the DICATECh Department of the Polytechnic University of Bari, together with researcher Milvia Elena Di Clemente, who presented the technical solutions adopted: a system free of chemical or thermal processes, based on advanced physical technologies such as air separation and triboelectrostatic separation, developed following a careful characterization of marine waste.
An overview of the health status of Apulia’s coastlines was provided by Vito Bruno, Director General of ARPA Puglia, who referred to institutional monitoring data, noting that plastic still represents a significant share of the waste found along the shoreline, while also highlighting signs of improvement attributable to growing environmental awareness and prevention policies implemented in recent years.
In her address, Francesca Portincasa, Chief Operating Officer (COO), of Acquedotto Pugliese, reaffirmed the direct link between the water cycle and the protection of the sea, emphasizing the importance of proper disposal behaviors within sewer networks and the strategic role of wastewater treatment systems within a circular economy framework.
The contribution of communities was underscored by Carmelo Rollo, President of Legacoop Puglia, who highlighted the growing awareness among coastal communities and fishers of the environmental and economic value of the sea. Lara Marchetta, WWF Italy’s delegate for Apulia, emphasized the need to act on consumption models and to strengthen transnational cooperation.
Finally, Daniela Salzedo, President of Legambiente Puglia, highlighted the educational and knowledge value of beach monitoring and cleanup activities, noting that the data collected on beach litter are a key tool for guiding environmental policies and strengthening citizens’ awareness through direct, on-the-ground experience.
Closing the discussion were contributions from local associations, including testimony from Marevivo Puglia, which reaffirmed the link between the health of the sea and human health, stressing the urgency of investing in the education of younger generations and in greater corporate responsibility.
