The Typhoon Project has removed 1,140 tonnes of waste from Greece’s remote coastlines, a volume equivalent to filling 22 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The initiative, led by the Public Benefit Foundation ‘Athanassios C. Laskaridis’, uses a 72-metre-long vessel to reach areas inaccessible by road.
Public Benefit Foundation ‘Athanassios C. Laskaridis’
Operations on Remote Shores
Since the project began in July 2019, a 20-member crew has conducted over 10,000 clean-up operations. The team utilizes five inflatable boats to reach isolated islands and rocky coves where debris is primarily deposited by sea currents rather than beachgoers. This Norwegian-built vessel serves as the operational hub, allowing the team to access shores that lack road connectivity or organized tourism infrastructure.
The scope of the work is significant, as the team collects between 500 and 1,000 kilograms of waste daily. By February 2023, the project had completed its first full cycle of cleaning the island and mainland coastlines. According to Thanasis Besios, manager of the Typhoon Project, the vessel and crew perform a vital function on coastlines that would otherwise remain uncleansed by any other means.
Foundation Tracks Marine Debris Composition
Project Logs Recovered Debris Quantity
Beyond physical removal, the project maintains a large-scale record of the debris recovered. Each item is logged to track the quantity and composition of pollutants found on individual beaches. The foundation views this analytical work as a critical component of their mission to understand the scale of marine degradation.
The project actively cooperates with academic institutions to further its research. Collaborative efforts involve the Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography within the University of Patras’ Department of Geology to investigate benthic waste throughout the Saronic and Thermaic Gulfs. The initiative collaborates with the University of the Aegean’s Marine Remote Sensing Research Group, employing advanced technology to identify and map plastic debris.
University of Patras and University of the Aegean
Expanding to Inland Sources
In 2024, the foundation launched a new programme called Cyclone to address the source of much of the marine pollution. After identifying that a large proportion of coastal waste originated from inland, the team established three dedicated units to clear debris from rivers, lakes, and archaeological sites. These teams operate in different locations across Greece, tackling the issue of illegal, uncontrolled landfills that continue to function in various parts of the country.
Programme called Cyclone
By taking children to the beaches, the organization aims to foster awareness and encourage the reduction of single-use plastics to ensure students become responsible citizens. The project remains committed to its core axes: environmental protection, the promotion of micro-entrepreneurship, and charitable donations for the public good.