River waste collection and new perspectives for the Po Delta
Taglio di Po, 15 September 2026 — The River Cleaning installation on the Po di Gnocca has officially been inaugurated. The automated system is designed to intercept floating waste before it reaches the sea.
The event combined a presentation of the technology and the initial collection data with a discussion on key environmental challenges affecting the Po Delta, followed by a boat visit to the installation.
Developed within the Horizon Europe INSPIRE project, coordinated by the Flanders Marine Institute with the involvement of CNR-ISMAR, the site also benefits from co-funding by the Veneto Region through the River Cleaning initiative coordinated by Venice Lagoon Plastic Free.
An automated barrier with waste collection and remote control
The hybrid system combines the MOLD River Cleaning barrier with the MINDS Clean Trash collection cage. According to the technical presentation, the 25-metre barrier guides floating material towards the cage, which features two independent levels and has a stated capacity of 600 kg. The two components are powered by separate photovoltaic systems.
Level, current and position sensors support the adjustment of the barrier’s immersion and its lifting under potentially hazardous conditions. A PLC controller manages the automation, while 4G connectivity enables remote control, notifications and repositioning management.
Results and key topics discussed
Data on collected material
The monitoring data presented during the event documented three emptying operations, carried out after intervals of 43, 2 and 2 days, with recorded weights of 19, 2 and 6 kg respectively.
A total of 965 plastic items were classified, with 830 belonging to the ten most frequently identified categories, representing approximately 86% of the total. Non-foamed plastic fragments, both rigid and non-rigid, were the most common items, followed by caps and lids.
In addition to these materials, the system intercepts wood transported by the river, ranging from small and medium-sized debris to large logs. It is estimated that the system intercepts an average of approximately 10 tonnes of wood per month, highlighting the significant amount of woody material carried by the river.
Potential solutions for saltwater intrusion and hypoxia
During the presentation on 15 September, River Cleaning introduced the attending authorities not only to the installed system, but also to potential solutions that could help address saltwater intrusion and hypoxia.
Hypoxia refers to low oxygen levels in the water, a condition that can also be promoted by the accumulation and decomposition of algal biomass. The proposed solutions represent potential future developments that will require further investigation and validation through dedicated studies and trials.
The discussion also focused on the Sacca di Scardovari, with particular attention to excessive water temperatures and water exchange. The solutions presented opened a dialogue with local authorities and consortia regarding potential applications of the technology to address the specific environmental needs of the area.
The site visit and next steps
The boat visit gave participants the opportunity to observe the system directly within its operational environment.
The demonstration site provides consortia and potential users with a reference point for discussing waste collection, maintenance and monitoring. Any new applications of the technology will require dedicated assessments to evaluate their performance and environmental benefits.
