- According to the European project “Plastic Pirates”, of the total plastic waste existing in river ecosystems, 82% is single-use, such as bags, wipes and containers.
- The UVic-UCC BETA Technological Centre has collected the project’s results for the fourth consecutive year and confirms the need for more responsible consumption, with fewer packaged products and more sustainable habits.
- 38 educational centers in Catalonia and more than 1,800 young people participated in this course, sampling 72 sections of the river.
Vic, June 27, 2025. The European citizen science project ” Plastic Pirates ,” coordinated in Spain by the BETA Technological Centre of the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), presents new results confirming that single-use plastics remain the most common pollutants in Catalan rivers. This trend remains stable and is mainly detected in urban areas. This year’s project results show that 69% of the waste is plastic, and that 82% of this corresponds to disposable plastics, such as bags, wipes, and food containers.
Obtaining these results is important for understanding the state of rivers, since plastic pollution has been widely studied in marine ecosystems, but much less so in rivers. There are few studies on the presence of plastic waste in rivers and its role in transporting pollutants to the sea. This year, a total of 38 educational centers in Catalonia participated in the “Plastic Pirates” project, involving more than 1,800 young people, who sampled 72 river stretches in autumn and spring. In addition to Catalonia, the project is also being carried out in the Comunitat Valenciana and Castilla y León.
“We now know that our rivers contribute large amounts of waste, especially plastics, to the Mediterranean Sea, which has become one of the areas with the greatest accumulation of plastics in the world,” explains Meritxell Abril, a researcher at the BETA Technological Centre and a member of the “Plastic Pirates” project in Spain. According to Abril, “understanding the state of rivers allows us to identify the factors that most harm them and transmit this knowledge to society, so that it can translate into changes in consumer habits.”
The results obtained are closely related to society’s consumption habits. In supermarkets, it is common to find food packaged in disposable plastic, while packaging-free options are often scarce or less accessible. Therefore, changing consumption habits is a key first step in reducing the presence of plastics in rivers. Switching to products with less packaging, reusable products, or those purchased in bulk, as well as promoting changes in production and distribution through education and collective demand, can significantly contribute to improving the health of river ecosystems. Furthermore, environmental awareness and education play a fundamental role in encouraging more responsible and sustainable consumption.
Project methodology
The “Plastic Pirates” project combines science and education. Schools apply standardized scientific techniques to analyze the presence and types of floating debris on the banks of rivers and streams. This project not only trains young people in the scientific method but also allows them to participate in a European initiative, with data that will be incorporated into scientific publications. This activity also raises awareness among young people about the environmental impact of plastic waste and river ecosystems and helps them understand the importance of changing consumer habits by reducing single-use plastics.
To carry out sampling of the river sections, a clear delimitation of the area where data will be collected is first established, selecting a representative stretch of the river. Once the sampling area is defined, water samples are collected to analyze the presence of microplastics. At the same time, a general quantification and classification of the waste present on the riverbank is carried out, identifying its type, density, and distribution. Specific materials such as a sampling kit and a protocol are used. Finally, the process is completed with a thorough classification of the waste found, differentiating it by material, origin, and potential environmental impact.
The results obtained are shared with the students, drawing conclusions that are then pooled to jointly develop possible solutions to reduce river pollution.
About the project
The UVic-UCC BETA Technological Centre, the University of Burgos (UBU), and Oxígeno Foundation, in collaboration with the Institute for Environmental Diagnosis and Water Studies (CSIC), have promoted the implementation of this European citizen science project for young people in Catalonia, Valencia, and Castilla León. Researchers from the BETA Technological Centre and the University of Burgos collect the data and integrate it into a European database.
The “Plastic Pirates” project was launched in Germany in 2016 and involves not only educational centers but also associations and groups across Europe. Along with Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, and Portugal are also participating. It is one of the largest citizen science networks aimed at young people in existence today. This project receives funding from the European Commission – Horizon Europe under the mission “Restoring our ocean and our waters by 2030” and has the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) – Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
The BETA Technological Centre of the UVic-UCC: European benchmark in sustainability
The CT BETA was established in 2014 to promote research activity in the field of environmental technologies and the circular bioeconomy at UVic-UCC. In its nearly ten years of history, it has become a key player in technological development, improving competitiveness and improving the quality of life of rural communities, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector.
Furthermore, CT BETA has also become a pioneer in the integration of environmental, economic, and social sustainability in industrial sectors, developing the capacity to exert direct influence on all levels of public administration and supporting the development of new environmental policies based on scientific evidence.
