Two people meeting for a conversation on the coast of Sant Antoni decided to change their plans when they discovered a beach littered with plastic and other rubbish following the recent storm in Ibiza.

Instead of walking past the waste, they began collecting it. Their spontaneous clean-up, shared in a video by environmental organisation Creatives For The Planet, has become a reminder that small actions can make a difference to the island’s coastline.

The initiative came after heavy rain and rough seas associated with Storm DANA Adam affected Ibiza and Formentera, causing flooding and damage in several areas. The weather also left rubbish accumulated along parts of the coast.

Plastic fragments and everyday rubbish on the shore

According to the account shared by La Voz de Ibiza, the pair had arranged to meet in a coastal area of Sant Antoni when they noticed the amount of waste on the beach.

Among the items they collected were a rose, a mayonnaise container, a flip-flop and numerous pieces of plastic. They also encountered large numbers of tiny plastic fragments, including microplastics.

The discovery prompted them to interrupt their meeting and start cleaning the area themselves. The report does not identify the exact beach or name the two people involved.

Their action highlights one of the environmental consequences that can follow intense weather. Rainfall and strong waves can move debris around the coastline, leaving waste accumulated on beaches and in coastal areas.

“You don’t need to organise a big beach clean-up”

The message behind the initiative is straightforward: people do not always need to wait for an organised campaign to help protect the environment.

In the video, one of the participants explains that large-scale beach clean-ups are not always necessary for people to make a contribution.

“If there are two of us and we can do it, then do it,” the participant says.

The pair also encouraged residents to take a bag to the beach after a storm and collect rubbish they find, helping leave the area clean.

The message accompanying the video sums up the approach: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”

The initiative does not replace organised environmental work, which can be essential when large quantities of waste need to be removed safely. Instead, it highlights how individual actions can complement broader clean-up efforts.

The environmental impact of plastic waste

Plastic debris on beaches is more than an aesthetic problem. Larger items can break down into smaller fragments, while microplastics can persist in the environment and enter marine ecosystems.

Storms can also redistribute waste al