To preserve its exceptional aquatic environment – from rivers to the Mediterranean – the City of Mandelieu-La Napoule has bet on innovation and collective intelligence. An "action-reaction" strategy to combat pollution in the aquatic environment is implemented. It is based on the preventive approach - controlling the waste before it enters the environment - and the curative / corrective approach - thoroughly cleaning public sites.
SEA SIDE…
Nets at rainwater outlets: The installation of nets installed on the banks of Siagne is a conclusive experience. The first phase of the study program was launched at the beginning of 2020. The technical nets, allowing waste to be trapped, were installed on the outlets rainwater. Two of these nets collect polystyrene bead-sized units.
Nets on the beaches : Since March 2021, the coast has been equipped with tailor-made anti-cigarette and plastic nets. In order to stop the inflows linked to the rainwater network, a dozen micro-mesh nets have been installed on the outlets of Robinson, Sables d'Or and Dauphins beaches. The approach has an educational scope: the visible nets will help raise user awareness.
Other initiatives.
– Partnership with the Association “Les Fonds Bleus” which alerts and cleans the seabed and thus collaborates in the preservation of the Mediterranean,
– Sensitization of the population during a workshop with Inf'Eau Mer et Méditerranée 2000,
– Creation of a fish nursery in Port de La Napoule, to preserve underwater biodiversity,
– Label Blue Flag* and Clean Ports and Clean Ports Active in Biodiversity ** (European certification) for water quality,
– Ecowetting,
– Installation of gray and black water pumping systems for users.
Mandelieu-La Napoule signed the charter “My territory is committed: rivers, plastic-free river, protected ocean” with the TARA OCEAN Foundation.
This charter aims to preserve the Mediterranean by limiting the consumption of plastics and managing waste. 4 axes are essential:
- Act against the spread of waste
- Fight against plastic pollution
- Transform this issue into an opportunity for mobilization and innovation
- Act in a process of partnership and solidarity.
PELAGOS Charter.
For more than 10 years, the city has been committed to the partnership charter of the PELAGOS sanctuary, which consists of establishing actions to protect marine mammals (pollution, noise, accidental captures and injuries, disturbances, etc.). In Mandelieu-La Napoule, capturing micro-waste using anti-plastic nets before dispersing them in the marine environment is a key measure. This action particularly caught the attention of the monitoring committee, which renewed the charter until October 2023.
Mandelieu-La Napoule, recognized TERRITORY COMMITTED TO NATURE.
The city strives to reclaim areas of biodiversity wherever possible and proceeds to the revegetation of all neighborhoods (islands of freshness, family park, banks of Siagne, Coulée Verte) using solutions for the preservation of resources natural. On the occasion of the World Conservation Congress in Marseille in September 2021, the Territory Committed to Nature (TEN) diploma was awarded to the town of Mandelieu-La Napoule by the Regional Agency for Biodiversity and the Environment.
Mandelieu-La Napoule is indeed betting on a sustainable, reasoned, concerted and balanced development of its territory, to meet the climatic challenges, strengthen and perpetuate its attractiveness.
PORT COAST LABELS…
PAVILLON BLEU is a label with a strong touristic connotation, a symbol of exemplary environmental quality. These are sites with a number of facilities to minimize the impact of tourist traffic. Sorting bins are available to recover waste and the presence of sanitary facilities helps to maintain quality bathing water. Safety and accessibility to bathing for all are also taken into account, as is information on the quality of bathing water and on the local flora and fauna. CLEAN PORTS. This is a European certification that promotes environmental excellence in terms of controlling effluents and waste from port activity.
CLEAN PORTS ACTIVE IN BIODIVERSITY: this certification highlights the commitment of managers who act in favor of local biodiversity in the port and its area of influence. Only ports certified as “Clean Ports” can claim this certification.
IN THE CITY…
Two micro-mesh nets adapted to the nature of the waste: These nets have been successfully tested since 2020. New anti-cigarette butt devices have reinforced the network, without restricting the flow of water.
Anti-smoking beaches: Already in 2015, the Raguette beach, renowned for its family character, became "tobacco-free" like all the parks and squares of the city. This restriction has been extended to all the beaches on the coast. At the same time, the city is gradually deploying cigarette butt bins in its public space. Litter bins equipped with ashtrays have already been installed on the Berges de Siagne, on the Places Fontaine-Château or even around the bus station of the High Level Service Bus (BHNS). Eventually, the entire territory will be equipped with it. The objective: to capture the cigarette butt before it ends up in the rainwater network and by extension at sea.
"Here begins the sea" : 150 slabs were placed near the rainwater drainage grids. The latter raise awareness of marine pollution due to the abandonment on public roads of cigarette butts, plastics and other waste that systematically end up at sea.
A salutary stop to wrecks and landfills along waterways! The process of cleaning the banks and waterways began in 2019 to permanently clear the wrecks which visually degrade the living environment and slowly pollute the waterways. 50 wrecks were evacuated from Siagne and 12 sunken boats were evacuated from Riou de l'Argentière.
