Preliminary assessment of waste accumulation along riverbanks in Italy

This paper presents a preliminary assessment of waste accumulation along riverbanks in Italy, aiming to provide baseline data for future monitoring and management efforts. The study surveyed 18 stations along 16 rivers across different regions of Italy, from north to south, to quantify and characterise the types and abundance of litter present along their banks. Field surveys were conducted by Legambiente citizen scientists applying a standardised protocol to record and categorise litter items systematically. Results indicate widespread litter accumulation, with a median density of 457 items/100 m and 0.2 items/m². A diverse range of items was observed, including artificial polymer materials (56%), glass/ceramics (20%), metal (11%), and paper/cardboard (6%). Half of the items belonged to just four categories: glass bottles (17%), cigarette butts (14%), plastic pieces (11%), and wet wipes (8%). Differences in litter density and composition were observed according to the land use (urban, agricultural, natural, urban park) of the area surrounding the monitoring stations. Riverbanks included in urban parks presented the highest litter densities. They were characterised by the high presence of litter from recreational activities (glass bottles, cigarettes, caps, and pull tabs), suggesting uncivil behaviour by visitors. The findings of this study allow for the identification of litter sources and underscore the importance of citizen science in filling information gaps since no previous data on litter on riverbanks in Italy were available.