Tisza river: ‘Plastic Cup’ Competitions Are Cleaning Up Rivers in Hungary
In Hungary - DALIA DPS8, cleaning up rivers has become both a competition and a celebration. During the annual Plastic Cup (PET Kupa), teams set out on rafts made from bottles they’ve pulled from the water, then race to collect as much trash as they can. Canoes return to a floating “mothership” with sacks of muddy bottles, Styrofoam, tires—even old refrigerators—while volunteers share laughs and snacks between hauls.
Since launching in 2013, the Plastic Cup has removed more than 450 tons of plastic waste from the Danube and its tributaries, proving that teamwork and creativity can turn a daunting challenge into real environmental impact.
Want to take a look at what happened in the Tisza river this summer?
Funded by the European Union
