Macro-plastic-waste along the Danube

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Plastic waste in marine ecosystems has become a major environmental problem at both the regional and global levels. Rivers are considered to be one of the main sources of pollution, but the sources and routes and environmental impacts of rivers stays unknown. The "PlasticFreeDanube" project focuses on macro-plastic contamination (> 5 mm) in and along the Danube. The aim of the project is to establish a sound knowledge of plastic pollution and standardized methods for estimating sources of inputs, quantities, transport behavior and environmental hazards. The project covers the area of ​​the Danube and adjoining bank areas from the agglomerations of Vienna and Bratislava to the Gabčíkovo (SK) power plant. Data on the origin and quantity of plastic entering the Danube are generated from existing data and field research (on-site waste collections and sorting) and subsequently summarized in a material flow analysis. Furthermore, the composition and properties are analyzed qualitatively and environmental risks of plastic decay in the water are evaluated. Measures to tackle this problem will be developed, pilot measures implemented, and a joint action plan will be developed based on this.

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