Litter Free Rivers and Streams

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One important aim of the EMR is to develop a healthy and appealing environment in which to live, work and spend leisure time. Tourism is a significant economic driver for the region. Every year, our rivers carry 8 million tonnes of plastic waste into the open sea. This enormous quantity of plastic litter causes serious damage to the environment and poses a danger to public health, the living environment, shipping and the landscape, resulting unattractive surroundings. Because rivers are the transport medium for plastic litter, a cross-border approach is absolutely essential. There is no relevant EU legislation; every country and region has its own strategy. Finding a solution depends on taking a comprehensive, cross-border approach: stop plastic being carried by rivers and clean up what is floating in the sea. LIVES is about stopping rivers carrying plastic and creating a sustainable situation. The purpose of LIVES is to organise a coordinated, cross-border approach to reducing plastic litter in the Meuse basin. The project consists of a broad alliance between regional authorities and stakeholders, including universities, NGOs, private and non-profit organisations, and the trade representative association in the plastics industry. Volunteers are also involved and play an important role in tackling the problem as project ambassadors. The project will unfold in three phases: 1 Survey: understanding the spread of plastic litter in the EMR rivers region by collecting and analysing data from the entire Euregion and by means of dedicated cross-border monitoring. 2 Measures: developing various types of innovative littler capture techniques and testing them at different locations in the EMR basin. Developing innovative measures for the prevention, transport and recycling of plastic litter. 3 Institutional arrangements: institutionalising the approach as it is developed: cross-border awareness-raising campaigns/communication (businesses, the public, authorities), coordinated efforts to influence policy (national and international); developing an adaption policy and administrative agreements. This approach will generate long-term engagement, commitment and support and lead to practical instruments and solutions focused on awareness-raising, management strategies and influencing policymaking at all levels of government (from local, regional and national to European) via Political Expert Forums. (see organisation scheme in attachment).

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