‘Plastic Cup’ Competitions Are Cleaning Up Rivers In Hungary

‘Plastic Cup’ Competitions Are Cleaning Up Rivers In Hungary

‘Plastic Cup’ Competitions Are Cleaning Up Rivers In Hungary Waterline is an ongoing series that explores the solutions making rivers, waterways and ocean food chains healthier. It is funded by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. H undreds of muddy plastic bottles, chunks of Styrofoam, car tires and even the odd refrigerator are piled high on a raft afloat on the river Tisza, about 90 miles northeast of Budapest, Hungary. Every now and then, a canoe pulls up to the raft, which is jokingly referred to as “the mothership.” The canoe unloads large yellow sacks full of plastic waste collected from the water, the occupants exchange laughs and have a bite to eat from the mothership’s surprisingly well-stocked pantry, and then they set off again to hunt for more plastic trash.  Every sack is recorded and tied up as the pile grows. This is important, because each canoe represents one of 15 teams, gathered on the Tisza to compete in the Plastic Cup , or PET Kupa . And the team with the bigges…