Roadmap for the Implementation of Monitoring and Sampling of Riverine Litter
A Practical Framework for City-Level Monitoring, Data Harmonisation and Mitigation Planning
How can cities build a clearer picture of the litter flowing through their rivers, and turn that knowledge into effective action?
This publication provides a practical framework for establishing consistent and reliable monitoring of riverine litter in cities across the South Baltic region. It helps municipalities, environmental authorities, NGOs, schools, universities and citizen-science groups move beyond isolated clean-up activities and begin collecting data that can be compared over time and across locations.
The roadmap introduces two accessible monitoring methods: visual surveys of floating macro-litter and surveys of litter deposited along riverbanks. It guides users through the entire process—from selecting monitoring sites and training local teams to recording data, assuring its quality and communicating the results. Cities can choose between minimum, standard and advanced monitoring packages according to their experience and available resources.
Practical field sheets, metadata requirements and quality-control checklists are included to support implementation. The roadmap also explains how monitoring can reveal litter hotspots, dominant waste types, seasonal patterns and possible pollution sources—and how these findings can inform targeted mitigation measures.
Its central principle is straightforward: start with a simple system that can be maintained, harmonise data collection from the beginning and expand as experience grows. In this way, local monitoring can support immediate action while contributing to a stronger regional understanding of riverine litter entering the Baltic Sea.
Download the roadmap: