On 22nd September, 63 people joined the World Cleanup Day event in Temse along the Scheldt River. Over 70 kilograms of waste was removed from the river banks and streets nearby.
On September 22nd, 2024, a large-scale cleanup event took place in Temse as part of World Cleanup Day. More than 60 volunteers tackled the banks of the Scheldt River to collect litter and plastic waste. This action is part of a global initiative aimed at making rivers and waterways free of plastic pollution. In addition to the cleanup, visitors and participants were able to fly drones as a demonstration on how this technology can be used to detect litter along the river.
River Cleanup, the organization behind this INSPIRE event in Temse, has been driving a significant movement to combat pollution and raise awareness since 2017. What started as a small local effort has grown into a worldwide organization that mobilizes thousands of volunteers. During World Cleanup Day, actions were carried out in over 30 countries, with thousands of people cleaning rivers and their surrounding areas.
In Temse, the event was based at Frans Boelplein, at the heart of the city. From there, volunteers, equipped with litter pickers and garbage bags, spread across the target areas, cleaning up the area around the Scheldt. Passersby also had the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and join the cleanup efforts. Afterwards, the event was celebrated with live music and ice-cream for all volunteers.
“The fight against plastic pollution starts locally but has a global impact,” says Thomas de Groote, founder of River Cleanup. He emphasizes that avoiding single-use plastics is key in protecting our environment. Through actions like this one, the organization hopes to inspire lasting change and encourage people to be more mindful of their plastic consumption in daily life.
“By inviting people to be part of the solution, you pave the way towards more sustainable choices in their daily lives.” – Arno Doggen
Contact:
Arno Doggen
arno@river-cleanup.org
