Cleanups
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Citizen science on Marine Litter
Combining Research and Action!
Since 2018 HZ Green Office is organizing clean-up events at the beaches, canals, forests, and harbors in Vlissingen, in collaboration with the Municipality of Vlissingen and “Doe Mee, Verlos de Zee!”. Integrated monitoring is carried out of the marine litter distribution on the coasts of the Eastern and Western Scheldt, as well as in the harbour of Vlisssingen. This research is shared with our partners in the Convenant Schone Schelde; a collaborate effort signed by 30 local parties to keep our river Scheldt clean. In this way, we participate in scientific research and at the same time contribute to efforts to keep our local beaches and River Scheldt clean.
With our clean-ups we contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
14. Life Below Water
17. Partnerships to achieve the Goals
In 2019, we monitored marine litter on five beach locations in Zeeland and tested different monitoring methods. The outcome of this research in 2019 can be read in this report: USING CITIZEN SCIENCE IN MONITORING PLASTIC DEBRIS ON BEACHES.
Over the period June- October 2020, we monitored which types and amounts of marine waste we found in the Inner Harbour of Vlissingen. Read Monitoring zwerfafval Binnenhaven Vlissingen
Read the story that Janine Vink, student journalism from Utrecht University, wrote about one of these cleaning and monitoring events.
Join us!
Clean-ups:
Clean-ups and monitoring sessions are taking place on a weekly basis. We give you the opportunity to earn HZ Credits while connecting with students from other study programs, participating in an outdoor activity, and making a step towards a clean and circular economy. You don’t need to bring anything to participate, but dress up warm enough! Earn double hours only for clean-ups with monitoring. So far, this will only include the harbor clean-ups. To always be up to date about the weekly clean-ups, visit the HZ Green Office Instagram
Interested? Just let us know upfront via Instagram or by sending an email to flec0001@hz.nl or greenoffice@hz.nl. You can also sign up in the Excel sheets shared via Insta
Non-student volunteers are welcome to join our efforts because the initiative is based on volunteers! You can borrow a "prikker" from us or other materials, just contact us or your local municipality.
You can also just do your own cleanup. Good locations where lots of waste can be found are around the canal between Middelburg and Vlissingen, De Buitenhaven in Vlissingen, around HZ Middelburg in the park, and around Supermarkets. Or just select a location in your neighborhood you like to make clean and look nice!
If you link this to HZ Personality, make some pictures as proof of your activity. But before that, do not forget to talk with your study coach and have the PDP approved. For having the hours signed, contact Carmel Michaeli at mich0023@hz.nl
Below you can find attached the hours template for tracking the spent hours for HZ Green Office activities.Bestand:HZ Personality HOURS SHEET.pdfFor more details, email us at greenoffice@hz.nl or visit us at the PE-2 hallway in Vlissingen.