Macro-litter (> 1 mm) in the wild causes multiple environmental damages (to the environment and wildlife), as well as health and economic issues. It can accumulate in public spaces, natural environments and rivers. Their management is a logistical and safety concern for public authorities.

WAO Nature & Conservation, in collaboration with Cerema, is supporting the Metropole de Lyon in a project to reduce macro-waste in river systems. The aim is to implement cross-disciplinary and integrative approaches, involving various stakeholders, in order to :

• Carry out a macro-litter diagnosis

  • In natural areas

  • In public spaces, with road workers

  • In sewage networks, with wastewater workers

  • In streams and retention basins, with Nature Brigades

• Experiment with preventive and curative actions

  • Develop awareness-raising and educational tools

  • Evaluate the feasibility of recovery systems (such as nets) at sewer outlets or downspouts

  • Evaluate the possibilities for organizing wastewater services

• Establish a strategy for implementing actions that can be replicated on a large scale

• Facilitate cooperation with other stakeholders in France (other local authorities, the French Ministry of Ecology, businesses, associations, research organizations, etc.) to share experience and deploy joint actions

Photo : Freepik