A Quiet Environmental Mobilization in Didim’s Coves: Plogging in Didim

Founded under the leadership of foreign residents living in Didim and supported by Turkish volunteers, the “Plogging in Didim” group has been clearing rubbish from the district’s coves, beaches and coastline for years.

Written by Yusuf Mehmet Sarışın - Didim’s unique coves are not merely places where people swim during the summer months. They are also important areas of natural heritage that must be protected and passed on clean to future generations. Acting with this understanding, the “Plogging in Didim” group makes a significant contribution to the district’s environmental efforts through its volunteer-based activities.

The group was established by foreign residents permanently living in Didim, including many British citizens. Over time, local residents, students and volunteers from various organizations also began supporting its work.

Combining Exercise with Environmental Cleanup

The word “plogging” is a combination of the Swedish phrase “plocka upp,” meaning “to pick up,” and the English word “jogging.” It refers to collecting litter while walking or running.

However, the work carried out by the volunteers in Didim has developed into a much broader environmental movement than simply picking up a few pieces of rubbish while exercising. On designated days, group members gather at one of the coves and collect waste left on the shore or washed in from the sea—from plastic and glass bottles to metal cans, barbecue debris and discarded fishing equipment.

Cleaning Didim’s Coves Step by Step

Over the years, the group’s cleanup program has included numerous locations, such as Cennet Cove, Fener Cove, Kulakçı Cove, Manastır Cove, İmbat Beach, Sağtur and the Fevzipaşa coastline in Akbük.

During one of the cleanup activities held in November 2024, volunteers collected 20 bags of rubbish from Cennet Cove. Around the same period, approximately 20 volunteers removed 28 bags of waste during a one-hour cleanup at Fener Cove. The collected rubbish included plastics, glass bottles, barbecue waste and various other solid materials. The waste was subsequently removed by Didim Municipality teams.

The group has continued its activities in 2026. Following the summer break, 15 volunteers reportedly took part in the resumed cleanup work at Yeni Meltem. According to another activity report published on 10 September, 13 volunteers collected 20 bags of rubbish from Fener Cove.

Working Together with University Students

The “Plogging in Didim” volunteers do more than organize cleanups among themselves. They also hold joint activities with students, helping to promote greater environmental awareness.

During an event held with students from Adnan Menderes University’s Didim Vocational School at Akbük Fevzipaşa Beach, young people were introduced to the idea of cleaning the environment while exercising.

Ayşe Öztürk, one of the group’s volunteers, stated at the time that they were cleaning four different beaches every month. She explained that their aim was to raise awareness about the damage caused by environmental pollution, expand the network of volunteers and leave a cleaner world for future generations.

The group also carries out joint projects with Didim Municipality, educational institutions and various environmental volunteers.

Every Bag Collected Is a Warning

The dozens of bags of waste collected from the coastline demonstrate the success of the cleanup efforts. At the same time, however, they reveal the scale of public indifference towards the environment.

The fact that dozens of bags can be filled within a single hour clearly shows that cleaning the coves solely through the efforts of municipal teams and volunteers is not enough. The real solution depends on picnickers, anglers, swimmers and day visitors taking away the waste they generate.

Jacqueline Brown, one of the group’s volunteers, previously emphasized that everyone has a responsibility to keep Didim’s natural environment and coves clean.

A Shared Language of Caring for Didim

“Plogging in Didim” stands out as an exemplary civic movement demonstrating that environmental awareness has no nationality or language.

The fact that people who came from other countries and settled in Didim are protecting the natural environment of the town in which they live—and working alongside local residents towards the same goal—also carries great value in terms of social solidarity.

The message delivered by these volunteers, who travel from cove to cove equipped with gloves, rubbish bags and litter-picking tools, is perfectly clear:

Didim is home to all of us. Keeping our home clean is not merely the responsibility of a handful of volunteers; it is the shared duty of everyone who lives here and benefits from these beautiful shores.

Didim Municipality Conducts Beach Cleanup at Kulakçı Cove for World Cleanup Day

A collective effort at Kulakçı Cove under the call: “Didim Is Our Home, Our Responsibility Is Shared”

News Centre — Didim Municipality conducted a beach cleanup at Kulakçı Cove together with the Plogging in Didim group as part of World Cleanup Day.

Organized under the principle “Didim Is Our Home, Our Responsibility Is Shared,” the event brought participants together in a joint effort to clean and protect the coastline.

Original report: Beach Cleanup at Kulakçı Cove

During the event, attended by members of Didim Municipality and the Plogging in Didim group, cleanup work was carried out along the shoreline of Kulakçı Cove. Waste found on the beach was collected, contributing to the cleanliness of the coastal area.

A Joint Effort for Kulakçı Cove

Throughout the event, participants supported efforts to keep Kulakçı Cove clean and preserve its natural beauty. The coastal cleanup also emphasized that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility.

Alongside its cleaning activities across the district, Didim Municipality continues its work to clean and protect the coastline. The event organized with the Plogging in Didim group highlighted the importance of shared responsibility and solidarity in safeguarding the environment.

Written by Yusuf Mehmet Sarışın