Waste Fishing
Marie-Hélène’s Fight? Eradicating Waste. From geotextile fibres—meant to stabilise the soil but ultimately degrading it—to so-called “biodegradable” wipes that fail to break down, not to mention plastic, sanitary towels, tampons, and condoms, far too often flushed down the toilet.
“These should go in the bin!” protests Marie-Hélène. “Otherwise, during heavy rainfall, sewage systems overflow before reaching treatment plants, and everything ends up in nature.”
The Kayak Strikes Back
Marie-Hélène’s Commitment Runs Deep—As Natural as Breathing.
“I grew up in pristine, untouched nature,” she recalls. “I had never seen litter on the roadside. Today, it’s everywhere. And especially in waterways.”
When she moved to Montpellier, Marie-Hélène took up canoeing and kayaking, soon finding herself collecting rubbish stranded along the water’s edge. That was the turning point: “Raising public awareness—drains and gutters are not bins!”
It Goes Without Saying…
Marie-Hélène had an obvious realisation: to create, alongside fellow kayakers, an association of volunteers and individuals sentenced to community service, working together to clean up the river.
“Walkers appreciate what we do and tell us so,” she smiles. “It’s also incredibly rewarding for those in reintegration, as it helps rebuild their confidence.”
From One Shore to Another…
Through her efforts, Marie-Hélène is also helping to clean up the Mediterranean, as everything that flows into the river ultimately ends up in the sea. Each year, nearly 11,200 tonnes of plastic waste wash up in these waters, further disrupting the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem and biodiversity.
With her entire team of reintegration workers and under the guidance of a landscape designer, the kayaker goes even further—multiplying initiatives to green and maintain the riverbanks with the help of the public.
Like a true sentinel, Marie-Hélène remains ever watchful, striving to restore nature’s beauty.
