Rivers can be seen as the lifelines of planet earth because they are vital for an intact environment. Unfortunately, most rivers worldwide are suffering from increasing land development, regulation and environmental pollution. Over the course of economic development, the diverse rivers have increasingly become flowing waste catchers, whose flotsam is largely responsible for polluting the oceans. As paddlers, we feel that it is important to ensure awareness and cleanliness in this regard.
According to the non-profit environmental organization The Ocean Cleanup, around 80% of marine pollution comes from around a thousand rivers worldwide, whose harsh flotsam such as packaging, chemicals and other industrial waste eventually ends up in the sea. Most of these rivers are in Latin and South America, West Africa and Asia, but European rivers are no longer wallflowers when it comes to pollution. And this despite the fact that very high environmental protection standards actually apply throughout the EU.
For example, the German Elbe and the Weser together transport around 60 tons of plastic waste to the North Sea. Although these are only estimates, other types of waste have not been taken into account. Currently only around 40% of all rivers in Austria are in a very good or at least good ecological condition. The Swiss Litter Report for 2017 accurately states that the Swiss lakes and rivers are full of rubbish. According to the final report, volunteer waste collectors collected, categorized and disposed of 80,000 waste items within nine months. So you can see that something urgently needs to be done!
That's what a paddling friend of mine also thought when he - like many paddlers - had to realize that even the idyllic waters near his doorstep were constantly polluted with rubbish. As a man of action, it obviously helped to be the mayor of a small municipality himself and to have contacts with local organizations and other neighboring municipalites. Therefore, with the help of the regional waste association and with the involvement of local water rescue and two other municipalities, a large-scale, all-day cleaning operation was organized last year on the Austrian Drava River, just before the Slovenian border.
This year the whole thing took place for the second time and enjoyed a larger influx of volunteers due to the great weather. It probably also helped that the press was invited to the first campaign and published corresponding TV and newspaper reports. The sponsors provided each paddler with a dry bag as a thank you, which was filled with all the necessary utensils: drinking water and a snack, work gloves, and of course a garbage bag. The water rescue service was available with two boats to transport bulky waste and to be on site in the event of an emergency. After all, the garbage collectors paddled mainly through uninhabited and difficult-to-access areas.
Since our cleanup operation targeted an approximately 15 km long section of the river, it was necessary to divide up two search teams, with each helper being able to decide whether they preferred to be on the longer or the shorter stretch. Since the Drava is crossed by a power plant in this area, it became necessary to deploy a water rescue boat above and below the power plant in order to ensure the removal of the bulky goods. In addition, the water rescue team also traveled with kayaks so that they could provide immediate assistance in the event of medical incidents.
If such cleanups take place in larger groups, it makes sense to speak to the municipalites involved in order to have everything legally clarified and to ensure the necessary infrastructure before, during and after the search operation. For example, it was necessary to organize a flatbed truck and transportation to transport the search groups, their equipment and the garbage collected. After all, the start and end points of both groups were several kilometers upriver and far from the meeting point. As an organizer, you also have to keep an eye on all safety aspects!
At the beginning of our cleanup, there was a short meeting at the meeting point to divide up the teams and explain organizational details. There was also a situation update regarding the water and a safety briefing by water rescue representatives. After a group photo, we got started and both groups of helpers set off for an entertaining but also busy day on the water. If you know the water and have often kept it clean, you can easily estimate where there might be rubbish.
Reed belts and floodplain landscapes in particular easily retain cans, plastic bottles and Styrofoam. Driftwood carpets and branches protruding into the water also catch all kinds of rubbish. This year's finds included buckets and barrels, Crocs, bottles and cans, plastic sheets and plastic bags that were buried in the ground and could only be removed with great effort.
Last year, water rescue divers were also able to be deployed due to the clear water. They even uncovered a toilet shell and a leaky fishing boat. I was also able to enjoy an intact beer in a can, which I immediately tasted. This year, however, I achieved a masterpiece in this regard when I saw almost ten sealed beer cans with an expiry date of 2019 lying by a tree near the bank. Here, too, there were no concerns about the taste and the crew immediately enjoyed the cool thirst quencher.
Again and again we came across animal skeletons, which once again showed us the laws of nature. In many ways, survival of the fittest prevails in the wild. However, so that this can be resolved among the animals and plants themselves, and so that both of them do not have to suffer more than is absolutely necessary under the yoke of humans, we have swarmed out for this as well.
The result of the cleanup campaign confirms once again that we humans are still far too careless with our waters and wetlands and can thus seriously unbalance the fauna and flora. Almost 300 kg of waste was weighed at the end of the day, slightly exceeding last year's waste volume. To be fair, it has to be said that a lot of rubbish ended up in the water probably due to the storms in August alone. This year, the banks formed countless gravel banks along inflowing streams and several slopes had slipped into the water. Nature is constantly changing the waters and their surroundings, but it should stay that way for the benefit of everyone!
Speaking of well-being: After our productive cleaning day, there was a delicious catering buffet in a nice bistro by the river. Ideas were also exchanged and suggestions for improvements for next year's campaign were discussed.
We are all called upon to ensure clean and healthy waters, at least on a personal level. This starts with the respectful treatment of animals, plants and water. Of course, all rubbish should always be taken with you and disposed of properly. If that's not enough for you, talk to other people about this topic and perhaps organize such a cleanup campaign yourself. From my own experience, I can attest that municipalities are generally open to this and are happy to provide appropriate work materials.
If the weather is right, you not only enjoy a beautiful day on the water, but you also make an invaluable contribution to nature and our future (see video). While others simply protest and pointlessly block roads, we simply attack where a cleansing hand is needed. Plus, it's fun, inspiring and you get to meet like-minded people. This is how our waters become clean & lean again.
More environmental projects
There are already countless clean up projects worldwide that (also) deal with the disposal of waste from water bodies. Many of these actions are aimed specifically at bodies of water and their peripheral areas. Find out about such projects in your area or get involved as an initiator! Here are just a few examples:
Global ocean and river cleanup
Land and water cleanup in Australia
Coastal Cleanup Day in Germany
Sea cleaning by the SUP Club Izola/Slovenia
Check list for your own launched cleanup campaign
- Get sponsors (municipality, waste associations, (water) rescue)
- Reward participants with goodies, small sweepstakes or a shared meal afterwards
- Obtain permits if necessary
- Advertise before and after the campaign (newspaper, TV, social media, homepage, blog)
- Ensure logistics (transport, disposal, work materials)
- Inspect the water in advance so that there are no unplanned problems
- Divide the paddlers into search teams based on their paddle experience and area characteristics
- Provide participants with buoyancy aids
- It's best to paddle on large all-round boards (space, stability, turning ability)
- Maintain ongoing contact with everyone involved during the campaign in order to be able to react quickly to emergencies or to dispose of bulky goods quickly and safely
- Continually monitor weather and water conditions
- Pay attention to the seasons: depending on where you want to carry out the cleanup, it is best to do it between spring and late summer, or outside the rainy season and of course not during the typhoon season
