Nearly Half a Ton of Plastic Waste Removed from the Pineios River through JOINABLE Activities in Greece

As part of the JOINABLE project, the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED) carried out two environmental cleanup and monitoring actions along the Pineios River in Thessaly, Greece, contributing to the project’s wider mission of addressing plastic pollution in aquatic environments through circular economy, citizen science, and community engagement.

The activities brought together volunteers, local stakeholders, municipalities, associations, and community groups, demonstrating how local action can generate both environmental impact and valuable data for scientific monitoring.

Community Action in Larisa

The first cleanup action took place in mid-February in the Ampelokipoi area of Larisa, along the banks of the Pineios River.

Despite challenging weather conditions, including rain, mud, and cold temperatures, volunteers remained committed to the effort. Over the course of three hours, nine volunteers collected 57 kilograms of plastic and recyclable materials from an area of approximately 600 square metres.

Beyond the removal of waste, the collected materials were sorted and recorded according to EMODnet standards, supporting the collection of structured environmental data on plastic pollution. This approach reflects one of JOINABLE’s key objectives: to combine practical environmental protection with citizen science and data-driven monitoring.

Expanding the Effort to the Pineios Delta

A few days later, iED continued the cleanup activities at Strintzos Beach, located in the Pineios River Delta.

This second action involved 33 volunteers, who worked for two hours and collected 422 kilograms of plastic and recyclable waste from an area of approximately 7,500 square metres.

In total, the two actions resulted in the removal of nearly half a ton of plastic waste from one of Thessaly’s most important aquatic ecosystems.

More Than a Cleanup: Citizen Science in Action

The actions implemented by iED under JOINABLE went beyond a one-off environmental intervention. They contributed to several important project objectives, including:

• removing harmful plastic waste from river and coastal ecosystems;
• collecting data to better understand pollution patterns;
• engaging citizens in environmental monitoring;
• training local communities in the use of structured monitoring methods;
• strengthening cooperation among local actors, volunteers, and institutions.

Through these activities, JOINABLE promotes a model where environmental protection is directly connected with knowledge creation, digital tools, circular economy practices, and long-term community involvement.

Supporting the JOINABLE Mission

JOINABLE, implemented under the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme and co-funded by the European Union, focuses on the challenge of plastic waste in rivers, seas, and aquatic ecosystems.

The project aims to promote the reuse and valorisation of plastic waste collected from aquatic environments, while also encouraging citizen participation, scientific research, and circular economy solutions.

By organising these cleanup and monitoring actions in the Pineios River area, iED contributed directly to JOINABLE’s mission of transforming plastic pollution from an environmental problem into an opportunity for awareness, collaboration, and sustainable innovation.

Next Steps

The cleanup and monitoring activities are expected to continue in the same areas in June 2026, enabling repeated monitoring and the collection of additional data.

This continuity is essential for building a stronger evidence base, supporting more effective environmental policies, and encouraging long-term local engagement against plastic pollution.

The Pineios River actions show that meaningful environmental change can begin at local level — when communities, institutions, and citizens work together with a shared purpose.