{"id":3453,"date":"2026-03-20T06:45:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/?p=3453"},"modified":"2026-03-20T06:45:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:45:04","slug":"turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

From drones and smart cameras to biodegradable packaging, EU-funded researchers are working to remove plastic from rivers before it ever reaches the sea.<\/p>\n

By Tom Cassauwers<\/p>\n

From his bedroom desk in the Belgian town of Dendermonde, Gert Everaert used to watch the river Scheldt flow past. Barges and small boats drifted by. Birds fished.\u00a0But the river also carried something less picturesque \u2013 a steady stream of litter and plastic waste.<\/p>\n

\u201cCars would stop and people threw rubbish straight into the water,\u201d he recalled. \u201cAll kinds of trash floated by. That always made me incredibly sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Everaert is no longer just watching. As deputy research director at the Flanders Marine Institute, he now leads INSPIRE, a major EU-funded research initiative bringing together scientists and innovators from 13 EU countries, plus Serbia and Thailand.<\/p>\n

Their aim is ambitious but straightforward: stop plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean \u2013 and prevent it from ever entering our waterways in the first place.<\/p>\n

The INSPIRE team is developing a wide range of new tools to help clean up Europe\u2019s rivers. From smart detection systems using drones and AI-powered cameras, to clean-up processes capable of capturing even tiny plastic particles. They are also working upstream, trying to stop plastic at the source before it reaches rivers.<\/p>\n

Why rivers matter<\/strong><\/p>\n

When people think about waterborne plastic pollution, they often picture vast patches of rubbish swirling in the open ocean or beaches covered in debris. But much of that plastic started its journey inland.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the plastic pollution in our oceans flows out of rivers,\u201d Everaert explained. \u201cThe longer you wait to collect it, the more it breaks down into microplastics and spreads. Cleaning up rivers is the most efficient way to tackle the pollution,\u00a0besides preventing pollution in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

INSPIRE is part of a wider European effort to reduce plastic pollution. By 2030, the EU aims to reduce plastic litter at sea by 50% and reduce microplastics released into the environment by 30%. If those targets are to be met, rivers will be central to the solution.<\/p>\n

Unlike ocean clean-up projects, which deal with waste that has already dispersed widely, river-based approaches allow researchers to intervene closer to the source \u2013 before plastic disintegrates into smaller and harder-to-remove particles.<\/p>\n

Stop it at source<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to pollution, prevention matters even more than removal.\u00a0Once plastic enters a river system, it starts to degrade. Eventually,\u00a0it breaks down into microscopic particles that are extremely difficult \u2013 sometimes impossible \u2013 to retrieve.<\/p>\n

Everaert points to packaging as one target area.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, vegetables are often packed in plastic, to keep them fresh longer. We\u2019re testing whether we can replace that with chitosan, a biodegradable film derived from shellfish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another target is agricultural plastic. Farmers widely use plastic films for mulching, covering soil to protect crops and retain moisture. But fragments often remain in the soil long after use. INSPIRE researchers are trialling bio-based polymers that could replace these materials and degrade naturally instead of accumulating.<\/p>\n

These alternatives are being tested at agricultural sites across Europe. The idea is not simply to invent new materials, but to ensure they work in real-world conditions.<\/p>\n

From the Danube to the Douro<\/strong><\/p>\n

The INSPIRE researchers are developing and testing\u00a020 different technologies across six European rivers, including the Scheldt in Belgium, the Rhine in the Netherlands, the Danube in Romania and the Douro in Portugal.<\/p>\n

The variety is deliberate.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlastic pollution contains many types of polymers, and they come in different forms and sizes,\u201d Everaert said. \u201cIn the Danube, pollution looks different than in the Scheldt. There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some rivers carry large floating debris. Others contain more fragmented or industrial plastic waste. Weather, shipping traffic, urbanisation and local waste systems all influence what ends up in the water.<\/p>\n

To better understand and track pollution, researchers are deploying drones and AI-powered cameras that can automatically detect and classify plastic waste along riverbanks and on the water surface. These systems help authorities identify hotspots and act faster.<\/p>\n

Smaller than a human hair<\/strong><\/p>\n

The researchers are also developing technologies to remove plastic from the water in all its forms and sizes.\u00a0One of the most challenging sources of pollution is also the hardest to see: microplastics and nanoplastics.<\/p>\n

Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 millimetres. Nanoplastics are smaller still \u2013 less than one micrometre in diameter. For comparison, a human hair measures about 70 micrometres across.<\/p>\n

These particles are now found almost everywhere \u2013 in water, soil, air, and even inside the human body. Scientists are still investigating the full health implications, but early research suggests possible links to inflammation and other health concerns, including cancer, allergies and immune system disorders.<\/p>\n

Delvec, a Greek nanomaterials company involved in INSPIRE, is developing a way to remove the tiniest plastic particles from water.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think microplastics and nanoplastics are to us what asbestos was to the previous generation,\u201d said Jeorge Deligiannakis, Delvec\u2019s CEO. \u201cWe are only beginning to understand the risks, but we need to learn how to remove them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delvec has created a prototype filter that captures nanoplastics without blocking water flow. The filter is coated with specially designed nanomaterials that bind to plastic particles.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a reactive powder on the filter surface,\u201d Deligiannakis explained. \u201cIt grabs the plastic nanoparticles as the water passes through.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prototype has already been tested in Slovenia. However, it still needs to be scaled up to handle the much larger volumes processed in wastewater treatment plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next step is industrialisation,\u201d Deligiannakis said. \u201cWe need to make it robust enough for full-scale treatment facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning the tap off on plastic<\/strong><\/p>\n

The INSPIRE researchers will continue their collaboration until spring 2027. By then, the team hopes to deliver not just individual technologies, but a practical blueprint that can be rolled out across Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to turn off the tap on plastic,\u201d Everaert said. \u201cMost plastic trash accumulates in rivers and can ultimately be flushed to the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, rivers are not just waterways, he points out. They are ecosystems in their own right, rich in biodiversity and essential to human communities.<\/p>\n

For Everaert, the mission remains deeply personal. The river he once watched as a boy is now part of a Europe-wide effort to rethink how plastic is used, managed and prevented.<\/p>\n

If INSPIRE succeeds, the sight of rubbish drifting downstream could become a thing of the past. Instead of carrying plastic toward the sea, Europe\u2019s rivers may once again run clean.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published\u202fin\u00a0<\/em>Horizon<\/em><\/a>\u00a0the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n

Research in this article was funded by the EU\u2019s Horizon Programme. <\/em><\/p>\n

More info<\/p>\n

INSPIRE (CORDIS)<\/a><\/p>\n

INSPIRE project website<\/a><\/p>\n

EU Plastics Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n

EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030<\/a><\/p>\n

\u200b<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From drones and smart cameras to biodegradable packaging, EU-funded researchers are working to remove plastic from rivers before it ever reaches the sea. By Tom Cassauwers From his bedroom desk in the Belgian town of Dendermonde, Gert Everaert used to watch the river Scheldt flow past. Barges and small boats drifted by. Birds fished.\u00a0But the … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,461],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-earth-energy-environment","category-science-in-society"],"yoast_head":"\nTurning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers - Horizon Magazine Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From drones and smart cameras to biodegradable packaging, EU-funded researchers are working to remove plastic from rivers before it ever reaches the sea. By Tom Cassauwers From his bedroom desk in the Belgian town of Dendermonde, Gert Everaert used to watch the river Scheldt flow past. Barges and small boats drifted by. Birds fished.\u00a0But the ... Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Horizon Magazine Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/horizon.magazine.eu\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-20T06:45:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Horizon Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/HorizonMagEU\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Horizon Magazine\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679\"},\"headline\":\"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-20T06:45:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1127,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Earth, Energy & Environment\",\"Science in Society\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/\",\"name\":\"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers - Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-20T06:45:04+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/3453\\\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"description\":\"The EU Research & Innovation Magazine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/eu-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/eu-logo.jpg\",\"width\":601,\"height\":283,\"caption\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Horizon Magazine\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/horizon.magazine.eu\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/HorizonMagEU\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/author\\\/horizonmagazine\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers - Horizon Magazine Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers","og_description":"From drones and smart cameras to biodegradable packaging, EU-funded researchers are working to remove plastic from rivers before it ever reaches the sea. By Tom Cassauwers From his bedroom desk in the Belgian town of Dendermonde, Gert Everaert used to watch the river Scheldt flow past. Barges and small boats drifted by. Birds fished.\u00a0But the ... Read more","og_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/","og_site_name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/horizon.magazine.eu","article_published_time":"2026-03-20T06:45:04+00:00","author":"Horizon Magazine","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/HorizonMagEU","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Horizon Magazine","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/"},"author":{"name":"Horizon Magazine","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/person\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679"},"headline":"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers","datePublished":"2026-03-20T06:45:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/"},"wordCount":1127,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Earth, Energy & Environment","Science in Society"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/","name":"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers - Horizon Magazine Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-03-20T06:45:04+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3453\/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-in-europes-rivers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Turning the tide on plastic in Europe\u2019s rivers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#website","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/","name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","description":"The EU Research & Innovation Magazine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization","name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/eu-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/eu-logo.jpg","width":601,"height":283,"caption":"Horizon Magazine Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/person\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679","name":"Horizon Magazine","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Horizon Magazine"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/horizon.magazine.eu","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/HorizonMagEU"],"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/author\/horizonmagazine\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgtNKV-TH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2131,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2131\/big-lessons-about-biodiversity-loss-from-a-little-french-river\/","url_meta":{"origin":3453,"position":0},"title":"Big lessons about biodiversity loss from a little French river","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"August 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Even while drought is bringing many of Europe\u2019s rivers to record lows and damaging biodiversity, the threat of catastrophic flooding following a dry spell lurks in the background. Some of Europe\u2019s most famous rivers such as the Rhine, Danube and Po, have been making headline news thanks to summer droughts.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/18-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/18-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/18-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/18-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/18-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/18-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":924,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/924\/removing-old-structures-from-rivers-could-restore-vital-water-flow\/","url_meta":{"origin":3453,"position":1},"title":"Removing old structures from rivers could restore vital water flow","author":"Steve Gillman","date":"August 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Rivers in Europe are so congested with concrete obstructions like weirs, bridges and other man-made barriers that they no longer flow freely, which harms the wider environment. Removing these blockages could restore these vital aquatic ecosystems to their former glory. Countless dams, bridges, weirs, and fords have sprung up over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Removing older unused barriers brings environmental benefits, such as helping vital nutrients flow downstream, says Prof Garcia de Leaniz. Image credit - Zden\u011bk Chalupsk\u00fd, licensed under Pixabay licence","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/czech-krumlov-382578_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/czech-krumlov-382578_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/czech-krumlov-382578_1920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/czech-krumlov-382578_1920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/czech-krumlov-382578_1920.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/czech-krumlov-382578_1920.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2706,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2706\/pushing-out-plastic-in-consumer-goods-packaging\/","url_meta":{"origin":3453,"position":2},"title":"Pushing out plastic in consumer-goods packaging","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"March 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Cellulose fibres are emerging as a sustainable option for wrapping everything from foods to electronics. By \u00a0Helen Massy-Beresford Attention supermarket shoppers in Belgium, France and Luxembourg: a test to cut waste from plastic packaging of foods is coming to nearby stores. Retailers Carrefour and U-Group plan to sell yoghurts, cheeses,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/18.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/18.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/18.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/18.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/18.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/18.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2268,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2268\/soil-and-freshwater-come-under-the-spotlight-in-plastics-pollution-fight\/","url_meta":{"origin":3453,"position":3},"title":"Soil and freshwater come under the spotlight in plastics-pollution fight","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"January 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Growing awareness of microplastics in the ground and in freshwater highlights the need to tackle an environmental threat generally associated with oceans. By\u00a0\u00a0GARETH WILLMER On a recent stroll to his local supermarket in the southern German town of Bayreuth, Christian Laforsch decided to count how much plastic trash he passed.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_2238924399-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_2238924399-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_2238924399-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_2238924399-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_2238924399-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_2238924399-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2357,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2357\/in-india-natural-ways-to-clean-up-wastewater-promise-big-benefits\/","url_meta":{"origin":3453,"position":4},"title":"In India, natural ways to clean up wastewater promise big benefits","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"April 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"European researchers are working alongside Indian experts to rethink the collection, decontamination and reuse of sewage in the world\u2019s most populous country. By\u00a0\u00a0HELEN MASSY-BERESFORD Winding its way through the mountains and plains of northern India, the Ganges River is sacred to the Hindu religion. More prosaically, its water and nutrients\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/21.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/21.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2525,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2525\/rainwater-in-cities-causes-more-troubles-than-wet-feet\/","url_meta":{"origin":3453,"position":5},"title":"Rainwater in cities causes more troubles than wet feet","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"October 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Researchers are looking at how to tackle pollutants in urban runoff and overflowing sewers. By \u00a0Jessica Berthereau Near the medieval Belgian city of Ghent, in the municipality of Wetteren, researchers are trying to reduce pollutants in rainwater using seashells. Millions of shells from the nearby North Sea collect and filter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/9.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/9.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/9.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/9.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/9.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/9.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/298"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3453"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3454,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3453\/revisions\/3454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}