People Fixing the World
Mar 11, 2025
Around the world, rubbish is collecting in our gutters and waterways, with millions of tonnes being washed out to sea every year. As the soup of ocean debris kills and injures millions of marine animals, we look at two projects trying to make a dent in the problem. We discover a Greek project which has enlisted thousands of fishermen around the Mediterranean to collect rubbish from their nets, rather than throw it back. They then sort it and hand it over for recycling when they return to port. We then travel to Accra in Ghana where a group of volunteers called the Buz Stop Boys are busy clearing the streets of rubbish. They hope their noisy grassroots movement will inspire others to take responsibility for public places and stop rubbish being washed out to sea. And we hear from Teddy, our youngest problem fixer yet. The six year old from the UK has stopped thousands of sweets tubs from going to landfill, proving you're never too young to fix the world.
People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email [email protected]. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.
Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer: Claire Bates Greece reporter: Daphne Tolis Editor: Jon Bithrey Sound mix: Gareth Jones
(Image: A Greek fisherman with debris recovered from the sea, Daphne Tolis/BBC)
