Environmental pollution by plastic litter is a pervasive, large-scale and international problem. It has been most researched in the marine environment, where it is estimated that around 13 million tons of plastic litter annually end up being washed into the ocean from land. Rivers contribute up to 2.8 million tons annually, and are therefore an important transport route of plastic litter to the marine environment.
While there is already a fair understanding of the origins of plastic litter in a few selected European regions and river systems, research data across Europe so far is largely fragmentary, if existent at all. By applying the citizen science approach to investigate the importance of rivers as pathways to ocean pollution, the ongoing Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! citizen science initiative enables researchers to identify sources of and mitigation measures for plastic pollution.
PlasticPiratesEU focusses on upscaling the successful citizen science initiative “Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!” (www.plastic-pirates.eu) to interested EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. In doing so, the project aims to raise awareness among citizens and, in particular, young citizens, in larger parts of Europe on the impact and benefits that research and innovation can have on their daily lives. It also aims to increase the capacity to collect, organise and verify data on plastic waste pollution stemming from and in European rivers, coastlines and seas. Another objective is to test, replicate and refine best practice models for linking excellent science and citizen engagement.
