Examining Cologne's Trash in the Rhine: Sources of the River's Waste
In the heart of Germany, a team of dedicated individuals are working tirelessly to combat the pollution of the Rhine. At the forefront of this initiative is Professor Dr. Tobias Schubert, a geographer from the University of Bonn, who is collaborating with the environmental protection association K.R.A.K.E.
For the past three years, K.R.A.K.E. has been operating a trash trap near Cologne Zoo, fishing out waste from the river. The data collected from these operations is meticulously entered into a trash app developed by K.R.A.K.E., with photos uploaded for further analysis.
The majority of the trash collected comes from private individuals, suggesting a need for greater awareness and responsibility in disposing of waste. One volunteer, Kai Hirsch, dons a green wader to collect the trash from the first chamber of the trap. He has observed a significant increase in the amount of trash during periods when the water level in the Rhine rises sharply.
Prof. Dr. Schubert and his team are particularly interested in understanding the origin of small plastic parts found in the Rhine. It is a puzzle that remains unclear, as chemical companies along the Rhine produce small plastic chips as raw materials for the plastics industry.
Katja Höreth, another geographer from the University of Bonn, is instrumental in evaluating the data collected by K.R.A.K.E. She has found interesting correlations and suggests deposit systems on plastic packaging as a potential solution to reduce the amount of trash in the Rhine. Improved disposal options along frequently used riverbanks for picnicking or grilling could also play a role in this effort.
The high incidence of single-use packaging from private use indicates that people need to take better care of their trash after a barbecue by the Rhine. K.R.A.K.E. aims to record raw plastic from industry to determine its origin and discuss prevention measures with manufacturers.
This collaborative effort between scientists and volunteers is shedding light on the sources of pollution in the Rhine and paving the way for preventive measures. The findings of this study will be shared on 19 September 2025 on the website television: Local Time Cologne, 7:30 PM.
Sources: RhineCleanUp, Cologne news, the environmental association K.R.A.K.E., Geographer Katja Höreth from the University of Bonn, and on-site reporters.
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