Final Report and Results from the River Eye Project by Blue Eco Line
Florence, November 5, 2024 – Blue Eco Line, an Italian startup dedicated to environmental monitoring and protection, has announced the publication of the final report for its “River Eye” project, conducted in collaboration with the non-profit Plastic Free and with support from the Veneto Region. The report details findings from over a year of monitoring plastic waste in three major rivers in Veneto—the Piave, Bacchiglione, and Canal Bianco. This study aimed to assess and analyze the flow of macroplastics, or large plastic debris, as it moves through these waterways toward the Adriatic Sea.
Using River Eye technology—a sophisticated system combining video cameras with artificial intelligence algorithms—the project successfully identified key hotspots where plastic waste accumulates, as well as the most common types of debris, including plastic bottles, rigid containers, and agricultural polystyrene. Analysis of the data also revealed a clear link between seasonal rainfall and the intensity of macroplastic transport, with peak levels observed in the spring and autumn.
“The monitoring highlighted the serious issue of plastic waste moving through our rivers and its impact on marine environments,” the Blue Eco Line team reported. “These results form an essential foundation for implementing preventive measures and planning interception strategies along watercourses.”
Blue Eco Line hopes this study will serve as a model for a permanent national monitoring network. Such a network would be crucial for protecting the health of Italian rivers and marine ecosystems and could inform sustainable waste management strategies across the country.
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