Clean Rivers
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consultancy
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interdisciplinary
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newpublicgovernance
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programmanagement
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socialcohesion
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resilience
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agile
The Clean Rivers programme focuses on developing innovative solutions and collaboration to combat plastic pollution in Dutch rivers, with the aim of a litter-free river delta by 2030.
The Clean Rivers programme began in 2017 and continues until 2030, with the ambition to achieve a litter-free river delta by that year.
In my humble role as strategic advisor and innovation coach/trainer, I periodically guided and supported the Clean Rivers consortium in their efforts to combat plastic pollution in Dutch rivers. My contribution consisted mainly of facilitating customised workshops and providing tools and instruments for interdisciplinary collaboration. For example, in 2020, we organised the kick-off meeting that helped the consortium arrive at a programme and programme approach for the SaniHack. Moreover, in 2022, we provided feedback on the hackathon programme developed by Clean Rivers, organised in BlueCity Rotterdam, using quality criteria we developed .
The main objective of the Clean Rivers SaniHack and the wider programme is to develop innovative and sustainable measures against plastic pollution in rivers. This programme builds on a large-scale river litter survey conducted since 2017. The aim is to identify the size, composition and origin of waste in Dutch rivers and to develop targeted measures for a plastic-free river delta by 2030 .
Facilitating the kick-off meeting in which the frameworks for the SaniHack and the wider programme were defined, such as themes, dates, innovation coaching and practical implementation.
Guiding the process where the different themes and sub-themes were identified.
Providing tools and instruments to support the consortium in their multi-year process towards clean rivers.
Providing feedback on the hackathon programme developed by Clean Rivers at BlueCity Rotterdam in 2022, using our quality criteria to further strengthen the programme.
During the kick-off meeting and subsequent guidance, we helped the partners involved to formulate concrete and measurable actions from both awareness of the seriousness of the situation, but also in collaboration with stakeholders who have been identified as the biggest polluters and seemingly biggest oponent in the fight against finding solutions to polluted rivers and the plastic pollution issue in particular.
The Clean Rivers programme is having a significant impact, partly due to the results of five years of river waste surveys. This survey showed that 89% of waste along river banks is plastic, with an average of 311 pieces of waste per 100 metres of river bank.The kick-off meeting and the SaniHack contributed to the development of concrete measures and cooperation among stakeholders, which is an essential part of achieving the ambition of clean rivers and a plastic-free river delta by 2030.
One of the key insights that emerged from the Clean Rivers programme is that the plastic soup is not only a problem in the oceans, but that it starts far upstream.Among other things, the research showed that much of the river waste remains in the banks for a long time and reaches the sea only under extreme conditions.For example, sewage overflows were found to contribute to 7% of riverbank pollution, with specific wastes such as cotton buds, sanitary wipes, and sanitary towels coming from these sources.Since 3 July 2021, Plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws and cotton buds have now been banned for single use.These can no longer be bought.Incidentally, cotton buds and straws for medical use are still available.
Social awareness has been raised as more than 10,000 volunteers participate annually in clean-up actions along the major Dutch rivers.In 2021, for example, these volunteers cleaned up 240,000 kilos of litter along the Maas and tributaries after floods.Nevertheless, there was a realisation that these volunteer efforts cannot continue indefinitely, and that a structural source approach is needed.
In addition, it was found that preventive measures, such as the introduction of deposits on small bottles and cans, have not yet had sufficient effect on reducing this litter in the rivers.
- Strategic guidance and project management
- Working with stakeholders with conflicting interests
- Facilitation of interdisciplinary collaboration
- Development of programme approaches and implementation strategies
- Supporting policy-making and action plans
- Training and education on sustainability and environmental management
For more information on the Clean Rivers programme and the impact of their research, please visit the Clean Rivers website: www.schonerivieren.org.
Several reports documenting the results of their efforts are available here.
For instance the report: "Clean Rivers, 2023. Plastics soup in Dutch rivers. The litter problem in rivers unravelled and what it will take to solve it"
