AQUATIC PLASTIC Project Closing Conference

The event is the closing conference of the Interreg Danube Aquatic Plastic project. The project aims to reduce macro- and microplastic pollution, encourage research, data sharing and joint action across the entire Danube river basin. The AQPLA consortium, comprising diverse stakeholders from 10 countries, including ministries, NGOs, universities, and water authorities, aims to indetify high-risk waste-leakage points and develop innovative solutions for extraction and recycling.

Date: May 28, 2026 (Thursday)

Venue: Stopper Floating Event Center (1138, Budapest, Moszkva sétány)

Our Speakers will be:

Our key topics will be:

Emerging Pollutants and Aquatic Plastics in the Danube basin
EUSDR challenges and solutions in the middle of a water crisis
Aquatic Plastic Volume 2. and the results of the citizen science activities
Integrated findings from microplastics pilot studies
Intervention methodology for authorities to prevent infiltration into rivers from high risk waste-leakage points
Pilot testing audited certification schemes and Obtaining accreditation for upcycling environmental plastics
Policy recommendations- the outcome of the co-creation process

Participation is free, but registration is required to reserve your spot.

Programme

Moderator: Zsófia Tomaj, sustainability expert

Time	Programme	Speaker
09:15 -10:00	Registration, welcome coffee
	Opening session
10.00 - 10.10	Welcome speech	Gusztáv Csomor Senior Priority Officer Danube Region Programme Managing Authority, Joint Secretariat
10:10 - 10:40	Keynote speech #1 Emerging Pollutants and Aquatic Plastics: Challenges and Responses in the Danube Region	Dr. Ádám Kovács Technical Expert, Pollution Control – ICPDR
10.40 - 11.00	Keynote speech #2 EUSDR challenges and solutions in the middle of a water crisis	Dr. Viktor Oroszi Hungarian National Coordinator of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region
11.00 -11.20	What the River Taught Us: Insights from the Aquatic Plastic Journey Aquatic Plastic Volume 2. and the results of the citizen science activities	Dr. Attila Dávid Molnár Founder of the Plastic Cup Society
11.20 -11.30	Q&A
11.30 -12.00	Coffee break and Blue Therapy
	*Session 1: Performance and key results of the project*
12.00 -12.30	Understanding Riverine Microplastics: Integrated Findings from Pilot Studies and the MIP Data Platform	Dr. Gudrun Obersteiner Senior Scientist University of Life Sciences and Natural Resources  Dr. Gábor Bordós Business Unit Manager International project manager Eurofins Hungary Ltd. Dr. Tine Bizjak Professional Associate Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia
12.30 -12.45	Pilot monitoring of high-risk leakage points and the automated evaluation protocol (software)	Dejan Ubavin Full Professor Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad
12.45 -13.05	Intervention methodology for authorities to prevent infiltration into rivers from high-risk waste-leakage points	Gergely Hankó Managing Director Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises
13.05 -13.15	Q&A
13.15 -14.10	— Lunchbreak & networking —
14.10 -14.30	Pilot actions to prevent infiltration of river waters – international cleanup experience		Marian Paiu Executive director Mare Nostrum
14.30 -14.50	Pilot testing audited certification schemes and Obtaining accreditation for upcycling environmental plastics	Imre Király Environmental and Certification Consultant Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises
14.50 -15.10	Policy recommendations – the outcome of the co-creation process	Orsolya Keményffy Environmental Policy Expert European Research Institute HAEE
15.10 –	Team Building – Riversaver Declaration – AQPLA Future Transnational River Cleanup Challenge Exhibition
16.00 –	Closing remarks

More information about the AQUATIC PLASTIC project.

The event is the part of the AQUATIC PLASTIC project, which is co-financed by the European Union and implemented with the financial contribution of partner countries and institutions under the Interreg Danube Region program.
The Hungarian partners participation in the project is co-financed by the Hungarian government.