Combating plastic pollution
Since 2019, we have organized 82 clean-up actions, gathering 58 tons of plastic waste with the help of 4100 volunteers. The actions were held in Sfântu Gheorghe, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Giurgiu, Zimnicea, Cernavodă, Brăila, Galați, Călarași, Oltenița, Tulcea, Turnu Măgurele, Orșova, Florești, Ișalnița, Făgăraș, Frumușița, Iași, Târgu-Neamț, Cluj-Napoca, Nicolae Bălcescu, Voineasa, Târgu Jiu, Craiova, Mahmudia, Sulina, Bradu, Adjud, Nehoiu, Brașov, Târgu Jiu, Voineasa, Șvinița, Gostinu.
Testing technological solutions
Alongside clean-ups, we are constantly researching and testing new technological solutions to help combat plastic pollution. With the help of the three solutions below, we have gather 46 tons of plastic waste, with the help of 290 volunteers.
The Waste Shark drone
Floating waste collection actions: București (Lacul Tei), Giurgiu, Orșova, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Ișalnița, Delta Dunării.
The Flotation Boom
5 floating barriers installed on the rivers Jiu, Cerna, Olt, Buzău and Siret, in order to collect and retain floating waste.
The Trash Catcher net
In partnership with the Belgian organization Waste Free Oceans, we tested the net on the Danube, close to Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
Preventing plastic pollution
Creating and implementing good practice examples
Good practice models have been created in order to prevent the discharge of plastic waste into the Danube waters, reduce the amount of waste that reaches the water, familiarize citizens with the idea of separating waste at home and inform them about the impact that plastic pollution has on their communities, how separate collection works, its necessity, economic benefits and legislative framework.
- 9 spaces in the immediate vicinity of the Danube banks equipped with a separate waste collection system
- 230 tons of plastic waste collected in the set-up spaces
- 000 inhabitants of the 10 cities informed about waste management
- 10 partnerships with local authorities
Separate waste collection areas
They were placed in strategic areas, near the shores, to prevent waste from reaching the water. The containers are accompanied by information on how the separate collection is carried out, as well as information panels on the fines imposed for illegal dumping.
“Trash art” containers
The fish clearly illustrates what happens to the plastic that reaches the sea: it is swallowed by fish. It functions as a collection container, having both an educational and an aesthetic function.
Information points
The information panels have educational and awareness roles and they mention the quantities and types of plastic that reach the water, the time required for their decomposition, alternatives to plastic, the effects of plastic pollution, as well as legislative regulations in the area.
Leisure areas setup on Danube’s banks
Picnic tables and benches, trellis, bicycle racks, ping-pong tables and badminton courts – some examples of arrangements with which we intend to bring the communities closer to the water.
These are leisure places equipped with separate collection bins and informative panels. This type of activity aims to coagulate local communities in iconic places, thus cultivating social responsibility and respect for nature.
Murals
#cuapelecurate murals draw attention to the problem of plastic water pollution and illustrate its effects on aquatic flora and fauna.
With these paintings, we aim to beautify the riparian cities and at the same time sound the alarm on the impact of plastic pollution on the lives of the inhabitants.
Community activation
The inhabitants of the Danube cities are the first to be affected by plastic water pollution and, at the same time, they are also those whose initiatives can have a direct impact on improving the current situation.
The main stake of the events is the coagulation of the local community around this common problem, which is addressed to all inhabitants, regardless of age or occupation.
Mobilizing riparian communities through community development
CeRe (Resource Center for Public Participation) implements community organization and training activities in the 10 communities involved in the project, in order to mobilize locals to reduce and prevent plastic pollution of Danube waters in their cities.
Environmental education in 38 highschools in riparian cities
Within the project, Bloc0 carries out educational and informative actions in high schools from the 10 communities along the Danube, in order to attract students in the initiative groups or in other activities of the project.
Eco-camps
In 2022 we organized 4 eco-camps on Danube’s shores, in Sulina, Islaz and on the Hopa Island, Călărași county. 90 children between the ages of 15-18 participated in 15 workshops and trainings.
Advocacy at central level
- Carrying out the first study in Romania regarding the amount of plastic waste carried by the Danube on the territory of the country and discharged into the Black Sea – in partnership with the Lower Danube University in Galati.
- Framing & publishing the data analysis report on waste collection and recycling o in the counties bordering the Danube.
- Writing a good practice guide summarizing the steps to be followed for the implementation / improvement of the waste management systems, with emphasis on the separate collection of plastic waste, in order to avoid it reaching the water;
Special projects
International collaborations
- Bulgaria & Serbia: co-organizing events on both sides of the river on Danube’s Day, involving 130 people.
- Germany: co-organizing events in riparian cities, as part of the Clean Danube project, involving around 200 people.
Water quality testing campaign
We tested 29 sources in order to identify possible pollution and test the waster’s quality. Conclusions: 5 sources with a nitrate concentration over legal limit; the exceeding values were sent over to authorities in charge in order to realize more in-depth tests.
