Plastic Pirates

Plastic Pirates - Go Europe! A Citizen Science Initiative to investigate plastic pollution along rivers

The pollution of beaches and riverbanks in Europe with plastic waste does not stop at borders. Preventing micro- and macroplastics in the environment, addressing this challenge scientifically and researching sustainable materials are therefore tasks we need to work on together across Europe.

Plastic Pirates - Go Europe! was first developed in Germany in 2016. Since January 2022, with the support of the EU Commission, the initiative has been extended to the whole of Europe as a European citizen science action in which school classes and youth groups (young people aged 10-16) collect plastic samples from streams and rivers and document their findings. The data collected across Europe is entered into a database and then analysed by scientists. Young people who are interested in science and the environment are given the opportunity to participate in practical research. They make an important contribution to researching the state of European rivers and the extent and pollution caused by plastic waste.
As part of the project, the types of waste identified by the individual groups (e.g. cigarette butts, pieces of foil or packaging) are recorded on a suitable river bank or stream with the help of detailed action materials. The digital map shows where waste has already been collected. The data collected by the young people across Europe will be consolidated (zenodo) and will then help scientists to gradually close existing research gaps on the occurrence, composition and generation of plastic waste. Exciting results from Austria can be found on the results page of the Austrian Plastic Pirates (in German). Interested school classes and youth groups are cordially invited to participate in the initiative. All information about the "Plastic Pirates" can be found on our homepage (www.plastic-pirates.eu/at) or can be obtained by sending an email request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Podcast episode

In November 2024, team members Gudrun Obersteiner, Anna Noichl and Anna-Sophia Schlagmann gave insights into the project on the Österreich forscht podcast Wissen macht Leute - you can listen to the episode here (in German).

Photo Gallery

• Citizen Scientists on their way to the collection Citizen Scientists on their way to the collection
• Group discussion of the collection protocols Group discussion of the collection protocols
• Collection at the Danube in Vienna Collection at the Danube in Vienna
• Throwing of the Manta net Throwing of the Manta net
• group C at the microplastics sampling group C at the microplastics sampling
• Manta net stabilised with PET bottles Manta net stabilised with PET bottles
• microplastic sampling with minister of education Polaschek microplastic sampling with minister of education Polaschek
• Minister Polaschek collects garbage for group B with Viennese students Minister Polaschek collects garbage for group B with Viennese students
• group B sorts their garbage finds group B sorts their garbage finds
• Garbage gets sorted Garbage gets sorted
• group B counts and documents their finds group B counts and documents their finds
• Picture for the data validation of the results of group B Picture for the data validation of the results of group B
• group A documents a photo of their transects for the data validation group A documents a photo of their transects for the data validation
• after uploading the data onto the website, they can be seen on the interactive map after uploading the data onto the website, they can be seen on the interactive map
• Plastic Pirates at the European Researchers' Night Plastic Pirates at the European Researchers' Night
• Microplastics Danube wetlands Microplastics Danube wetlands
• Plastic Litter National Park Donauauen Plastic Litter National Park Donauauen
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This project fulfils version 1.1 of the quality criteria for citizen science projects on Österreich forscht.