New Guidance Document on Tackling Riverine Plastic Pollution
Addressing transboundary riverine litter pollution demands a multifaceted strategy, incorporating harmonized actions, standardized measurements, advanced waste management techniques, and heightened awareness on an international scale.
Our new publication fills a critical gap, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks to establish effective waste management systems and deter illegal waste disposal.
Drawing on insights from the Tid(y)Up project (2020-2022), this policy guidance proposes financial and planning instruments to reinforce these efforts, including environmental protection guarantees. It prioritizes waste management options based on environmental benefits and stresses the critical importance of establishing appropriate waste-management system, closely coordinating effective monitoring of plastic pollution and implementing regular and voluntary citizen-river cleaning activities.
The publication also underlines the significance of education, public opinion shaping, and fostering attitude change as crucial elements for promoting more responsible and sustainable management of plastics and other waste materials.
Featuring a foreword by ICPDR Executive Secretary Birgit Vogel, this document is a key milestone in combating riverine plastic pollution. It is poised to influence policy and decision-making within the Danube River Basin and beyond significantly.
The development of this policy guide was a collaborative effort of the ICPDR and the Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises and the Plastic Cup Society. Additionally, its authors shared their expertise at various international forums. These include ICPDR working group meetings, the Carpathian Convention conference, the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) congress, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) conference.
