Municipalities Against Plastic Waste

The workshop aimed to provide an overview of current legal frameworks, facilitate the exchange of practical experiences from the municipal level, discuss existing challenges, and jointly develop solution-oriented approaches to reducing plastic waste.

Following a welcome address by Antonia Krebs (University of Oldenburg), Dr. Marta Jacuniak-Suda (ArL Weser-Ems), and Hanna-Lena Oer (BUND), the TREASURE project was introduced, highlighting its objective of reducing plastic inputs into the North Sea through international cooperation. This was followed by a discussion on governance structures and political action options at the municipal level.

The core of the workshop focused on the exchange of best-practice examples, including reusable systems, clean-up initiatives, extracurricular learning environments, and awareness-raising campaigns. At the same time, key challenges were identified, such as limited resources for enforcement and inspections, difficulties in implementing fines, and the need for stronger public communication and outreach.

Overall, the workshop highlighted that municipalities across the North Sea region are already taking concrete steps to reduce plastic waste, often under challenging conditions. The discussions showed that effective action does not depend on a single solution, but on the combination of governance, practical measures, education, and cooperation at the local level.

By bringing together experiences from different municipalities and sectors, the TREASURE workshop created a valuable space for mutual learning and inspiration. The insights gained will help to strengthen existing initiatives, encourage new partnerships, and support municipalities in further developing practical and context-specific approaches. In this way, the exchange contributes to the shared goal of reducing plastic pollution in rivers and, ultimately, in the North Sea.