Ah, the Mediterranean… Its turquoise waters, its dream beaches, and… its trash? Well, that was then! Because Mandelieu-La Napoule has just made a major breakthrough by becoming the first city in France to achieve the goal of zero waste at sea. And frankly, as a lover of the coastline, I can only applaud this brilliant initiative. Let’s dive into this project together, which could very well be a game-changer for our coasts!
A project that’s good for the sea (and for our eyes!)
The goal? A clean sea, pure and simple.
Imagine: not a single one left plastic waste in the waterThis is the ambition of Mandelieu-La Napoule, which has decided to seriously tackle marine pollutionTo achieve this, the municipality has implemented ultra-innovative measures, in collaboration with partners such as Capgemini, the “Project 0 Waste to Ocean” association and Pollustock.
Connected nets and baskets: technology at the service of nature
- Anti-waste nets 24 self-intercepting nets are installed on waterways and outlets to catch waste before it reaches the sea. Clever, isn’t it?
- Connected baskets More than 240 collection baskets have been deployed throughout the city, equipped with sensors to optimize their management. Yes, even the bins are high-tech in Mandelieu!
- A data platform All information on collected waste is centralized for better management. In short, it’s serious business.
A comprehensive strategy to preserve our beautiful blue
Concrete actions for years
Mandelieu-La Napoule didn’t just wake up with this idea yesterday. Since 2020, the town has been multiplying its initiatives to protect the Mediterranean:
- Installation of nets on beaches and drainage outlets.
- Creation of an environmental brigade to keep a close eye on things.
- Collaboration with associations such as Fonds Bleus, SeaCleaners and Surfrider to clean beaches and seabeds.
- “Smoke-free” beaches and parks to reduce cigarette butts (and that’s a great idea!).
- Daily beach cleaning during the summer season.
A model to follow
This project is part of the UNOC 2025 (United Nations Ocean Conference) initiative, where Mandelieu-La Napoule aims to lead by example. And frankly, they have every reason to be proud:
- 1 label “0 waste to Ocean”.
- 24 self-intercepting nets (20 of which are already installed).
- 240 collection baskets (70 of which are already in place).
- A data platform to manage everything perfectly.
An investment worth making
The deployment of this solution has been underway since June 2025, with a budget of €460,000 excluding VAT. It’s a significant investment, but when you see the result, you realize it’s truly worth it. Because, let’s be honest, who wants to see trash floating around during a boat trip or a swim?
Why is this project great?
Every year, approximately 10,000 tons of waste end up in aquatic environments in France, 80% of which originates inland. Mandelieu-La Napoule demonstrates that it is possible to drastically reduce these discharges through technological solutions and collective action. And that’s a real breath of fresh air for our coastlines!