Italian workshop in Cittadella (PD)
25/01/2026
On 22 January in Cittadella (Padua), the workshop “From theory to practice: proposed actions to tackle littering along the Brenta River” was held as part of the Interreg Italy–Croatia WASTEREDUCE project, bringing together institutions, local administrations and stakeholders to address waste-related challenges in the Middle Brenta area.
The meeting was hosted by Etifor | Valuing Nature, a partner of the WASTEREDUCE project, and represented the third participatory workshop organised within the project framework. It provided a valuable space for dialogue and co-design, involving local municipalities and associations together with project partners ETRA, ARPAV, the University of Trieste (UNITS) and the Brenta Basin Council.
During the workshop, the results of the analyses carried out in the Middle Brenta pilot area were presented. These activities included field observations, visitor questionnaires, stakeholder interviews and experimental monitoring using drones and satellite data. The findings showed moderate to significant litter accumulation, particularly in the most visited areas, with cigarette butts, plastic and paper among the most common waste types, as well as critical issues related to insufficient signage and waste disposal facilities.
Based on these results, project partners presented an operational action proposal developed together with local stakeholders. The proposal focuses on concrete infrastructural measures to prevent waste abandonment and targeted communication initiatives aimed at raising awareness and encouraging responsible behaviour among river users. A key insight emerging from the discussion was that the simplicity and accessibility of proposed actions are crucial to fostering positive behavioural change.
The strong engagement of participants highlighted the importance of shared responsibility, collaboration and local knowledge in transforming analysis into effective action. The workshop concluded with a press conference presenting the main outcomes of the meeting and outlining next steps towards coordinated and concrete interventions to tackle littering along the Brenta River.
