Acknowledging a problem is one thing, eliminating it is the next level. Our purpose is to inform so others can act. Szolnok, a Hungarian town didn’t need a push from us or anybody: last month they have cleaned the floodplain of Tisza, for the second time in two years.
Last year 300 people, many of them volunteers, have decided not to wait for others and started gathering plastic bottles carried by the river from the upper catchment area.
After a flood wave, floating PET bottles were counted at 5 locations from Tiszaszőlős through Szolnok to Tiszaug, as part of the water quality protection project, and polluted areas were mapped and the materials to clean were determined.
These included PET bottles, paper, cling film, plastic, household waste, while face masks and rubber gloves were handled with special care. Larger items that couldn’t be moved, e.g. tyres for tractors or plastic barrels were picked up later by specialists.
It’s a great initiative beneficial both for the environment and humans. It’s crucial to reduce the effects of pollution, the goal is to stop polluting Tisza in all five countries where it flows.
In order to reach this goal many voices are needed that call authorities and governments, both national and local ones, to raise awareness, educate and come up with an action plan so our river, the Tisza can stay what it is: a home to many species, a natural wonder and a source of food (and fun) for people.
