154 kg of waste removed from nature on Earth Day
On April 26, 2025, to mark Earth Day, a large-scale environmental clean-up took place at the mouth of the Neretva River. The action was organized as part of Rezolucija Zemlja, a national initiative led by Večernji list. Alongside Sunce, the clean-up brought together the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Kiteboarding Komin – Neretva, the hospitality venue Adelante, Youth association Kolektiv, Sunce’s TAČ volunteers, and members of the local community. Working together, volunteers collected 154 kilograms of waste, removing it from this ecologically valuable natural area.
– I pulled an electric scooter out of nature! It’s shocking how irresponsible people can be, leaving such things behind as someone else’s problem. This is a place to enjoy nature, and common sense says that whatever you bring with you, you should also take back, – said Ivona Šuman from Adelante, located at the river mouth.
– It makes me sad to see so much plastic that has already started breaking down and it’s incredibly difficult to even collect it. You can’t believe it’s been in the environment so long that it’s disintegrating, and no one removed it, – emphasized Martina Soldo from Sunce.
Launched in 2021, Rezolucija Zemlja is one of the largest environmental movements in Croatia. Its goal is to mobilize as many volunteers as possible, systematically clean up the environment, and raise awareness about ecological responsibility. However, clean-up actions alone are not enough. Real change comes from reducing waste generation, acting responsibly toward nature, and permanently adopting sustainable habits.
Waste monitoring for scientific use
In addition to removing litter, the action at the Neretva river mouth also had an important advocacy component. TAČ volunteers conducted waste monitoring in line with the standardized Marine Litter Monitoring Protocol for beaches.
– Along a 100-meter stretch, a total of 154 kilograms of litter was collected. The data gathered will be submitted to relevant scientific and research institutions, giving the action long-term value in tracking pollution trends and developing solutions based on real data, – said Dalka Zanki, an expert associate at Sunce.
– We always enjoy coming to the Neretva river mouth, but the amount of plastic the river carries is truly alarming. The situation is far from harmless. The Neretva is among the thousand most polluted rivers in the world. That’s why monitoring waste according to the Marine Litter Monitoring Protocol is so important. We also implement a simplified protocol during our actions and send the data to the Institute. This approach allows for a better understanding of the challenges on the ground. We’ve followed Sunce’s work for some time because one of our members, Ana, volunteered with Sunce, which is why we came to support this action. This Sunday, we’ll be organizing a clean-up in the Kula Norinska area as well, – said Iva Rastočić from Youth association Kolektiv.
A call to citizens: ‘Take with you what you brought’
The clean-up action at the mouth of the Neretva once again demonstrated the importance of cooperation between local communities, civil society organizations, institutions, and citizens. But for nature to remain clean, responsibility is needed from every individual, every day of the year, not just on Earth Day.
The Neretva river mouth is one of Croatia’s most valuable natural areas, rich in plant and animal life. At the same time, it faces significant pressure from river-borne waste, especially plastic. This action showed that the community has both the will and the interest to make a difference.
– Each year there is slightly less waste, but the Neretva still brings it in. It would be good to develop a dedicated project focused specifically on the river. Until that happens, the least you can do is take your waste home with you, – emphasized Lovre Šuman from Kiteboarding Komin – Neretva.
– While every clean-up action matters, the real goal must be a world where there is simply no waste in nature. Prevention is stronger than repair. That’s why we must all work together to reduce waste generation. Choose reusable products, avoid single-use plastics, repair instead of discard. Nature is not a landfill, it is our partner in building a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable future, – concluded Zanki.
