River Paraná garbage is a visible issue. Various initiatives seek to clean the shores of the islands, involving kayakers in waste collection campaigns.
During a recent session, more than 30 kayakers collected hundreds of kilos of garbage, and now plan to replicate these activities monthly.
Olivia Reda’s Initiative on the Paraná River
The idea was driven by Olivia Reda, a kayaker committed to river cleanliness. After recovering from a spinal surgery, she resumed the activity and organized one of the first cleaning outings last month.
The chosen area was in front of España Park, where 30 bags of trash were collected, mainly plastics and metals, using dog food bags and burlap donated by local businesses.
Collected Waste
The majority of the waste consists of plastics and metals left by visitors. In similar campaigns, such as Más Río Menos Basura, eleven trash containers were collected, including straws, plastic bottles, and cigarette butts.
Plastic is a significant global issue. According to the UN, 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from its use and production. Only one-third of the 430 million tons of plastic produced annually is recycled.
Cleaning the Island Shores
In addition to the garbage left by visitors, much is carried by the river, including unusual waste such as televisions and toys, belonging to islanders affected by floods. Kayakers also clean the islands’ internal lagoons, where trash accumulates after floods.
Awareness and Cooperation
The provincial government carries out awareness tasks and has signed agreements with Entre Ríos to reduce the impact of waste. The importance of not throwing metals or glass to prevent fires due to the magnifying glass effect is highlighted.
Olivia Reda mentioned that they find both recent and old waste, some from other countries. An example was a rice wrapper from a Paraguayan brand. Styrofoam is particularly problematic, as it crumbles and contaminates greatly.
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