Category: News

Published: 11 March 2025

The third podcast episode centered around a conversation with Sydney Steenland, who shared her experiences of growing up with a profound connection to the sea and her journey into addressing plastic pollution. Sydney's upbringing was unconventional; her family lived on boats, moving from place to place, which instilled in her a deep appreciation and understanding of the marine environment. Despite financial struggles, her family found solace and creativity in this lifestyle, eventually leading to the establishment of the Sea Monkey Project. The project was born out of a desire to address plastic pollution, especially in remote communities, by creating accessible recycling solutions.

This episode feels like listening to an audiobook. Sydney's life is full of twists and turns. As a child, she experienced a closeness to nature that few are ever fortunate enough to enjoy. Of course, that came with its own set of challenges. Her childhood experiences ultimately led the still very young Sydney to establish the Sea Monkey Project.

If you have a moment, dive into the story of Sydney's life and the journey behind her aspirations. It really is like a book—captivating and impossible to put down / turn off!

What can you learn from this episode?

• In the opening chapter, we delve into Sydney’s life story—how a so-called spoiled child blossomed into a nature-loving, boat-dwelling, life-embracing individual, both as a child and an adult. We also explore what nature truly means to her.
  • “I was not homeschooled, I was world-schooled” - Sydney.
  • You can get to know someone who was raised like, lived like Moana.
• The second chapter shifts focus to the pressing issue of plastic pollution and the inspiring journey behind the creation of the Sea Monkey Project.
  • How to build a machine for plastic recycling?
    • And why will others want to use it too?
• Finally, in the third chapter, we uncover some solutions to this global challenge. But will the story have a happy ending? Tune in to find out!

About Sea Monkey Project:

“At the Sea Monkey Project, we turn trash into treasure, creating sustainable livelihoods and fostering a decentralized circular economy ecosystem, one community at a time. We believe that by rethinking our material choices and equipping marginalized groups with the tools and knowledge to upcycle plastic waste, we can make a lasting impact on both the environment and society. Together, we are building a future where the oceans are cleaner, and opportunities are endless” - https://seamonkeyprojects.com/#who-are-we.

Sydney described the process of developing the recycling machines and the challenges faced along the way, including using reclaimed materials and learning through trial and error. The Sea Monkey Project succeeded due to its innovative approach and commitment to local engagement, and it has become a beacon for small-scale recycling efforts.

Her journey hasn't been without personal challenges, especially being a young face of a significant environmental project and dealing with public attention. However, she emphasized the importance of storytelling and genuine connection to nature, which keeps her grounded and motivated.

This episode serves as a compelling example of how personal history, passion, and a bit of happenstance can lead to significant positive impact in the world, particularly in raising awareness and addressing environmental issues like plastic pollution.

About Aquatic Plastic

Aquatic Plastic is brought to you by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, co-funded by the European Union. Operating within the world's most international river basin, the Aquatic Plastic Danube-Region Interreg project unites 33 organizations spanning 10 countries. Together, we are executing 19 pilot actions and developing 8 solutions aimed at preventing, reducing, and managing plastic pollution in the natural waterways of the Danube River Basin. How do we navigate through such diverse borders? Explore further by delving into our report, and begin following our journey on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

Listen here - Aquatic Plastic Podcast - Episode 3

Category: News

Published: 25 February 2025

As of 1 July 2023, MOHU MOL Waste Management Ltd. is responsible for the environmentally and economically sustainable operation of the domestic waste management system, which includes raising awareness of the need for door-to-door and separate collection of selective waste. The common goal is to increase the amount of waste going to selective collection, yards and containers, and thus to reduce the amount of waste going into the mixed municipal waste bin. By correctly separating recyclable waste, you can help to protect our natural resources and build a clean, environmentally friendly country and a responsible society. The following information, posters and guides will help you do this.

We know from experience that there are still many "What and where?" questions and a lack of information, so we hope that these downloadable, printable brochures will help to further widen the circle of environmentally aware citizens. 

More info: https://mohu.hu/hu/mit-hova-dobjak

Category: News

Published: 25 February 2025

Read the Story of Bendi and Andrew, two Plastic Pirates who fight plastic pollution all over Europe.

We are Bendy and Andrew,  two young Plastic Pirate ambassadors from Hungary, East Europe. We are students and volunteers. We live alongside a Danube River tributary, called the Tisza River.

Bendy as a kid, giving an interview (left picture). Andrew as a kid sitting
on a pile of plastic collected during a river cleanup (right picture).

When Andrew and I were small kids, our parents took us on some strange summer holidays. We did not go to the sea, like other families, but instead, we went to the river and activities such as the Plastic Cup. This is a funny boat race for silly people who do not build their boats out of ordinary materials like wood or glass fiber as any other person would do. No, they build their boats from plastic bottles and other kinds of waste and call themselves plastic pirates! Interesting isn't it? We grew up with this Plastic Cup. In the beginning, we thought it would always be like this: friends, boats, and lots of fun. Then, as we grew older, we started to understand, this is a bit more serious than that. 

Getting (not too) serious and making some videos

The Tisza River is polluted with a lot of plastics. A lot of plastic, in some places you cannot imagine how much. The plastic comes from places like Ukraine, where there is a war ongoing and people cannot afford to order services like garbage trucks. There is also a major plastic flow from other places like poor places in Romania. That is why we were sailing with these plastic bottle boats and cleaning the river. Then our parents asked us if we could do something different. Let’s do some environmental or educational videos - they said. And of course, we said yes. Even if we were small, we understood that plastic pollution is a great problem, and we have to do something about it. So we tried our best. Now, years later it is a bit awkward for us to watch these films again.

Doing citizen science and making even more videos

First, we did not know what citizen science was. But then we were asked to grab a smartphone, download the TRASHOUT application and go out with family and friends. The idea was to find plastic pollution along the banks of the Tisza and report these sites via the app. The project was called #petcamino (in Hungarian the plastic bottle is called the PET bottle, hence the name).  If you search for the hashtag on Facebook, you will find some content about it, here is just one video.

The TRASHOUT application can be used to report pollution sites.

The idea worked because people from all over tried to help. Volunteers from 5 countries walked both shores of the river, which means more than 2000 kilometres of the bank was marked. We found thousands (!) of polluted sites and we have put them on a plastic pirate TREASURE MAP, still used today to organize river cleanups. But if you ask us, the most important result was not the map or the data, but more the videos which helped a lot of people to find each other.

This also helped us to participate in  Plastic Pirates GO EUROPE! , because we knew how to bring in schools and kids to projects. When we did the Plastic Pirates sampling on the Bodrog river in Sárospatak, we thought that we are doing something important, something that counts. And that felt really good. We also loved being at the Plastic Pirates summit 2024 in Brussels as Plastic Pirates Ambassadors! Not only because I’m obsessed with traveling around the world, but also because of the people we met there. It was so interesting to talk to the other young Ambassadors and hear about their experiences in their countries. 

Bendy and Andrew (top left) with Plastic Pirate Ambassadors from all
over Europe at the Plastic Pirates Summit in Brussels, November 2024.

Finding other plastic pirates in Ukraine and making even more videos

We think everybody is a plastic pirate who is trying to stop plastic pollution in rivers or the sea. Some of us do citizen science, others, like Béla from Ukraine, collect waste. He found us on Facebook, because of the videos that we made. He did not have any money, so at the Plastic Cup, we made a crowdfunding campaign to help him. It collected around 10.000 USD in 3 days! From the funding Béla could buy a big truck which he has been collecting waste with ever since. Here is a film about him and his Riversaver Truck.

We also travelled to Ukraine and saw where the plastic was coming from with our own eyes. We went there with our plastic recycling workshop, called the River Litter Lab (in Hungarian: MÜMÜ).

BENDY (left photo) with school kids in Ukraine, working as an animator of the River
Litter Lab. On the right, is Andrew with kids in Bulgaria, showing how to recycle plastics.

We found so many nice people in Ukraine. Friendly people who, just like us, wanted to stop the pollution. Believe it or not, now Plastic Cup has helped to buy not only one truck but many more, minibuses, forklifts, plastic shredding machines, and baling machines. We also bought hundreds of waste bins. So as we write this, we are more successful with this than with river cleanups. Because with river cleanups we already collected about 400 tons of plastic by now. But in Ukraine, we have collected more than 1000 tons of plastic! And all this before it entered the river, or the ocean.  

More Information

Plastic Pirates and the Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters

By applying the citizen science approach to investigate the importance of rivers as pathways to ocean pollution, the  Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!  citizen science initiative enables researchers to identify sources of and mitigation measures for plastic pollution. Through upscaling the initiative to the coverage of river systems and geographical areas across the EU, citizens will be empowered to produce data at the local level and, thereby, to contribute to closing the research gap at the European level. The Plastic Pirates will help to achieve the objectives of the  Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters , in particular its ambition to prevent and eliminate pollution in European seas and waters, and is included as specific action in its implementation plan.

source: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5a754f546f6d4c5e95d2171709ba0b30, by Bendeguz Bachrathy and Andras D. Molnar

Category: News

Published: 12 February 2025

Ian Davies - Tisza Tidy Up - How a firefighter started to fight plastic pollution

In the second episode of Aquatic Plastic, we dive into the world of Ian Davies, a retired firefighter turned environmentalist, who swapped the River Thames for the Tisza River in Hungary. Together with his wife, Edina, Ian co-founded the Tisza Tidyup Initiative, a grassroots mission to tackle the scourge of plastic pollution with a whole lot of community spirit. Spoiler alert: this episode is packed with heart, humor, and a surprising amount of wooden boat-building.

Ian’s firefighting skills didn’t just stay on dry land—they help him and his team navigate risks during river cleanups. Ian and Edina mobilize locals and volunteers to rescue the Tisza’s riverbanks and forests from plastic pollution. Alongside their cleanup missions, they take their knowledge and experiences to schools, inspiring kids to become the next generation of eco-defenders.

And the cherry on top? They built a traditional wooden fishing boat (ladik) to mix heritage and environmentalism, showing that sustainability can float on tradition. 

The special guest of the show is Adam Kovacs, a technical expert and someone who is dealing with pollution control on a daily basis at the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR). The conversation reflects the evolution of environmental priorities in the Danube River Basin, from addressing nutrient and organic pollution to tackling emerging threats like plastics and hazardous substances. Kovacs emphasizes how targeted interventions in specific areas responsible for the majority of emissions can significantly reduce pollution without restructuring the entire basin. The ICPDR’s international framework enables countries to collectively address shared challenges, fostering data sharing, policy alignment, and cooperative action. 

This episode is a reminder that fighting pollution can be serious work—but with the right people and a splash of creativity, it can also be seriously fun.

Chapters

Chapter 1:  From flames to flow: Introduction of the guest - Ian Davies (00:00:00 - 00:03:50)

The part when we know how a firefighter turned into an environmentalist and why it is good for a group of people if someone so experienced is the leader. “I find myself constantly making risk assessments as to whether what we are doing is safe.”

Chapter 2: From Fire Hoses to River Waves (00:03:50 - 00:10:45)

From childhood days on sunny Maltese beaches to exploring canals with his own kids, Ian’s life has always been full of watery adventures. Ian’s knack for problem-solving and love for water followed him right into his next adventure: cleaning rivers. Turns out, once a firefighter, always a firefighter—just with a twist.

Chapter 3: From Greenwich to the Tisza – A Tale of Two Rivers (00:10:45 - 00:17:09)

Edina tells the story of how she left Hungary to explore life in England and how she met Ian. They spent much time together and their own and shared experiences would later inspire their return to Hungary and commitment to preserving the Tisza.

Chapter 4: A River in Crisis – The Cyanide Disaster and Its Aftermath (00:17:09 - 00:20:47)

The 2000 cyanide spill on the Tisza, dubbed the second-worst environmental disaster after Chernobyl, left scars on the river’s ecosystem, fishing traditions, and tourism. In this episode we reflect a little bit on the resilience of the river and the people who worked tirelessly to mitigate the damage. 

Chapter 5: The Power of Community – Volunteers and New Beginnings (00:20:47 - 00:31:30)

Moving back to Hungary, Ian and Edina were inspired by the community spirit that blossomed around their cleanup initiatives. Volunteers from all walks of life—parents, children, local leaders, and even the deputy mayor—joined forces to care for the river. For Ian, it was a way to find his place in the town, while for Edina, it reignited her childhood love for the river. Their shared mission created a vibrant network of friendships and partnerships, laying the foundation for ongoing efforts to protect the Tisza.

Chapter 7: Shifting Currents: Tackling Pollution in the Danube Basin (00:20:47 - 00:43:53)

Adam Kovacs, a technical expert at the ICPDR, discusses the changing environmental priorities in the Danube River Basin, shifting focus from nutrient and organic pollution to emerging threats like plastics and hazardous substances. He highlights the effectiveness of targeted interventions in key pollution hotspots to reduce emissions.

Chapter 8: A River's Rhythm (00:44:05 - 00:50:14)

In this chapter, we dive into the essence of the Tisza Tidy Up initiative. The cleanup efforts are carefully timed to the river’s unpredictable flow. Ian shares how they adapt to conditions, especially after floods. Ian and Edina explain how cleanups go beyond just picking up trash – they’re about creating a sense of community, bringing people together, and having fun while making a real difference. 

Chapter 9: Education, Art, and the Environment (00:50:14 - 01:06:35)

Art and education play a central role in the initiative. From fish painting with schoolchildren to creating interactive plays, the focus is on teaching environmental responsibility in fun, engaging ways. Ian talks about the joy of inspiring kids through creativity, showing them how even small actions – like picking up a bottle – make a big difference in preserving the environment.

Timecode for youtube:

00:00:00 From flames to flow: Introduction of the guest - Ian Davies

00:03:50 From Fire Hoses to River Waves

00:10:45 From Greenwich to the Tisza – A Tale of Two Rivers

00:17:09 A River in Crisis – The Cyanide Disaster and Its Aftermath

00:20:47 The Power of Community – Volunteers and New Beginnings 

00:31:30 Shifting Currents: Tackling Pollution in the Danube Basin

00:44:05 A River's Rhythm 

00:50:14 Education, Art, and the Environment

Category: News

Published: 12 February 2025

Become a qualified River Cleanup Coordinator!
Apply for a unique opportunity and learn from experienced plastic pollution experts from all around the Danube River Basin

For years, dedicated volunteers from Plastic Cup Initiative have been working on developing an effective international river cleanup method in the Tisza river basin. Thanks to their efforts, a structured and certified approach to cleaning our rivers from plastic pollution is being established, and now invites you to become a part of the solution. Are you a student or an NGO worker passionate about river cleanup methodologies? Do you want to learn more about the formation and management of riverine litter accumulations? If you enjoy fieldwork, community engagement, and want to take your skills to the next level, apply now for the Community River Cleanup Coordinator Workshop!

Witness plastic pollution firsthand and learn effective cleanup methods from experienced "Riversavers."

The workshop is currently open for applications, offering a rare chance to become a qualified community river cleanup coordinator for free. This initiative, taking place within the Aquatic Plastic project, provides hands-on training, practical experience, and certification in river cleanup techniques.

Why is this a great opportunity?

• Certified Training – You will gain recognized certification as a qualified Community River Cleanup Coordinator, which can be a valuable asset for future environmental and sustainability projects.
• Real Impact – The training goes beyond theory, allowing you to actively participate in cleaning and preserving the Tisza River from plastic pollution.
• Community & Networking – Join a network of like-minded individuals and environmental professionals dedicated to protecting our waterways.
• Cost-Free Participation – Thanks to the program’s funding, you can gain this valuable certification without financial barriers (see application criteria below).
• A Sustainable Future – By becoming a certified river cleanup coordinator, you contribute to the long-term sustainability and health of our rivers and aquatic ecosystems.

Date and duration: Overlapping training for two groups (Group A - university students / Group B - NGO representatives) within the period of 12-19 May, 2025

• 5 consecutive days / 4 nights
• Group A: 12-16 May 2025
• Group B: 15-19 May 2025

Location: Kisköre, Riversaver Center, Hungary

Number of participants: 15 people / group, 2 groups

Riversavers motivate local communities, mobilize resources and initiate river cleanups.  

Application criteria and process:

To apply, send a short motivation email to [email protected] with an optional CV attached. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee participation in the workshop. To ensure the best experience with the most suitable candidates, applications will be reviewed by the workshop organizing committee, who may reach out for an interview. Having swimming skills, paddling experience, and a background in volunteering, cleanup efforts, or outdoor activities is a plus. The participation fee is covered by the EU for selected applicants from the following Danube countries: Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Practical info:

Fees: For selected applicants, the accommodation, meals, and travel costs will be covered by the Aquatic Plastic project.

Accommodation: University students will be provided with basic comfort accommodation, either on a boat or in bungalows. NGO representatives will receive separate rooms in apartments.

Travel: To have your travel costs covered, your itinerary will be arranged by an official partner of the Aquatic Plastic project, together with fellow participants from your country.

Meals: Participants will receive 3 meals daily: breakfast, lunch and dinner, refreshments will be available on site during your whole stay.

The workshop will show you that river cleanups are great sources of joy:

and the collected plastic can be recycled in a thousand ways:

Download the workshop poster HERE
Send your application or your questions here: [email protected]

FAQs:

Q: What does ‘community river cleanup’ mean, and what types of pollution do you target? 

A: River cleanup efforts focused on plastic pollution can be categorized as professional or community-driven. This workshop specifically covers community cleanups—teaching participants how to engage local communities and involve diverse stakeholders in cleanup initiatives.

Q: Why is the list of countries with free admission limited?

A: The Interreg Danube Region Program allocates a specific budget to project partners of Aquatic Plastic to cover workshop expenses. However, this funding is limited to participants from certain countries, restricting free admission to those eligible regions.

Q: How long does the selection process take?

A: After the application deadline, all submissions will be compiled and evaluated. If the number of applicants is high, a selection committee may be formed to conduct interviews. Applicants awarded free participation will be notified via email 2–3 weeks before the workshop.

Q: What exactly will we learn, and where is the workshop held?  

A: The hydropower plant in Kisköre, on the Tisza River, receives a significant amount of plastic pollution each year, with floating waste accumulations sometimes spanning several hectares. Adjacent to this strategic site, the Plastic Cup Initiative has established the Riversaver Centre, a dedicated field station for river cleanup efforts.  Here, alongside the Floating Exhibition, participants will explore how plastic pollution forms, behaves in rivers, and how it can be effectively managed.

Category: News

Published: 09 December 2024

The recent Co-Creation Workshop held on November 26-27, 2024, at the Water Research Institute (VUVH) in Bratislava aimed to train participants of the AQUATIC PLASTIC Project on effective co-creation methods. This training is designed to enhance stakeholder engagement when organizing similar workshops in their respective countries. The workshop focused on fostering collaboration among stakeholders to address the critical issue of plastic pollution through innovative and participatory approaches.

Day 1 Highlights:

- The event commenced with an opening by the facilitators, who emphasized the informal and engaging nature of the workshop. Participants were encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences openly.

- A series of group cohesion activities were conducted to foster relationships among participants. These included exercises such as positioning along a scale to express energy levels and familiarity with co-creation concepts, as well as creating Venn diagrams to identify shared traits.

- Participants engaged in discussions about their hopes for the project, using image cards to symbolize their aspirations and expectations.

- Key themes emerged regarding what participants need for full commitment to the AQPLA project, such as time, resources, recognition of stakeholders, and clear guidance from leadership.

Presentation Insights:

A presentation by a project representative highlighted experiences from previous roundtable events, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders. The introduction of stakeholder mapping methods was discussed, showcasing how effective networking can enhance project outcomes.

Day 2 Overview

The second day began with a warm-up exercise that allowed participants to reflect on their experiences from Day 1. A plenary discussion focused on the Policy Guidance Document aimed at addressing plastic pollution. Experts shared insights on effective communication strategies and the importance of engaging various stakeholders, particularly youth.

Participants were divided into groups to evaluate the existing Policy Guidance Document and propose improvements. They discussed how to ensure its relevance and effectiveness for key stakeholders while exploring innovative communication channels.

The workshop concluded with a commitment from participants to continue developing ideas and strategies in upcoming Helpdesk sessions, reinforcing the collaborative spirit essential for tackling plastic pollution.

This workshop represents a significant step towards fostering a co-creation mindset among stakeholders dedicated to addressing aquatic plastic challenges through shared knowledge and collective action.