Citizen Science Plastic Busters

Plastic pollution is now firmly embedded in the public consciousness in Austria and in the research community. Nevertheless, plastic waste in the natural environment and in river systems has been inadequately studied, due in no small part to the high cost and, above all, the labor-intensive nature of the surveys. As a result, the volume, composition, sources, entry pathways, and transport routes of plastic waste still cannot be satisfactorily described. Preventing micro- and macroplastics in the environment, scientifically addressing this challenge, and researching sustainable materials are therefore tasks on which we must collaborate across Europe. The international Plastic Pirates project has already gathered valuable information on the occurrence of plastic waste in rivers. However, limiting the scope to rivers prevents broad public participation and also reduces visibility. The Citizen Science project Plastic Busters aims to counteract this. The goal is to generate data on the current state of littering (focusing on plastic) in Austria to inform the implementation of future measures. The aim is to strengthen the trust of young people and adults in science through active participation in research projects. The competencies of young people and adults in the area of a clean environment and clean waters are to be strengthened, and the broad impact of the initiative is to be increased by shifting it to publicly accessible areas. The Plastic Busters concept is intended to both strengthen participants’ access to science by involving them in research questions, data verification, and interpretation of results, as well as to generate valuable data for science and policy.