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Reduce waste dumped in our waterways

Jurisdiction: Aotearoa New Zealand

How can we use data to create actionable insights that reduce pollution around our city waterways, improve water quality, protect our sea life and positively impact the food chain?

Water is life for us all on our planet. Pollution around our city waterways degrades water quality, can harm our sea life and affect the food chain. Nurdles, polystyrene, soft plastic and waste of all sorts are entering our rivers, city drains and end up in our surrounding waterways.

Sustainable Coastlines is a volunteer organisation of citizen scientists with the goals of 'Beautiful Beaches, Healthy Waters and Inspired People'. (https://litterintelligence.org/)

Through a methodical Litter Intelligence process we can survey and capture what materials are appearing in our waterways -- their location, type and quantity.

The idea is to gain insights into litter content / makeup in our waterways -- then take action.

Create actionable insights that reduce pollution around our city waterways, improve water quality, protect our sea life and positively impact the food chain

Areas to be creative in:

Insights

• What type of materials are turning up in our waterway surveys - do you spot any trends?
• Is there a data analysis that allows us to take action within the city?
• Can you get a business onboard with a suggestion about banning something from being sold?
• Do we need to encourage alternative materials for common items to lessen their impact in our oceans and rivers?

What other ideas do you have for insights into water pollution and waste mitigation?

• Surprise us!

Eligibility: Use litterintelligence open dataset. Via the shared API or download a CSV from https://litterintelligence.org/

Entry: Challenge entry is available to all teams in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Litter Intelligence

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