Project Goals.

“Pick me up, don’t pick me up” is a pilot project of the Tuscan Island Biosphere Reserve through which to stimulate tourists, and in general those who frequent the beaches of the Archipelago, to collect the small plastic fragments and butts that the sea brings back to land, and at the same time remind them of the ban on collecting sand, stones and shells. The project will be piloted in summer 2025 working with a small number of bathing establishments, with the aim of extending it to the entire Archipelago in subsequent summers.
The goal is to raise awareness with respect to the problem of plastic fragments and butts in the sea and the importance of reducing plastic use and to highlight how pervasive these materials can then be in the marine and coastal ecosystem if not disposed of properly.
At the same time, the project aims to raise awareness of the Tuscan Archipelago, rewarding those who participate with a voucher that allows them to enjoy free or discounted guided tours, workshops or publications from the Tuscan Archipelago National Park that allow them to discover places, stories and traditions of this rich territory, characterized by a constant balance between local communities and the environment.
Those who wish to participate, can go between June 14 and September 14 to the participating bathing establishments , will receive a kit consisting of gloves, bag to be filled with plastic fragments of the size of about 7 cm maximum (the palm of an adult person’s hand). The bag should then be returned to the same bathing establishment, receiving at the same time a voucher that will allow you to benefit from one of the prizes provided by the National Park.

Prizes

  • n. 1 admission reduced guided tour Fortress Volterraio
  • n. 1 reduced ticket guided walks at the CEAs in Marciana and Rio
  • n. 1 reduced ticket nature trekking in Pianosa
  • n. 1 reduced admission to the Pianosa Agronomist’s House
  • A gadget of your choice of water bottle, emotional notebook on the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago (EDT Editions), personalized T-shirt with PNAT illustrations

Period

Saturday, June 14, 2025 to Sunday, September 14, 2025

How to participate

Participating in “Take Me Away, Don’t Take Me Away” is very simple:

  1. Head to one of the project’s partner beach establishments
  2. Receive the kit consisting of a bag to fill and gloves
  3. Collect plastic fragments you find on the beach
  4. Return the bag and receive the voucher
  5. Take advantage of the award

Where to participate

Project partners

Tuscan Archipelago National Park
Bathing establishments

The pilot edition of the “Pick me up, don’t pick me up” project involves five bathing establishments:

  • Hotel Viticcio e Hotel Paradiso
  • Hotel Capo Sud
  • Hotel Casa Rosa
  • Hotel Fabricia
  • Stabilimento balneare Pino Solitario
ESA – Elbana Environmental Services
Answer the questionnaire

Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash