Environment

Green Kayak starts latest clean-up of waters across Hamburg

25 May 2023
Danish-based kayaks collecting tons of litter - mixing commitment to environment with fun tour

Eight green kayaks are now available free of charge from five wharfs in Hamburg provided the crew removes rubbish from Lake Alster, canals, Gose-Elbe and Bille. Around 7,600 kayakers have fished almost 21 tonnes of litter from local waters since the Danish environmental initiative, Green Kayak, arrived in Hamburg funded by the Ministry of the Environment.

Combining leisure with commitment to environment

"Green Kayak is the perfect means of combining leisure, nature and civic engagement. Rubbish does not belong in the water. Protecting nature is important and that also means being considerate of animals and plants when paddling. The  Alster and canals are important habitats for them," said Jens Kerstan, Senator for the Environment. Canoeists should keeping a minimum distance of five metres from nesting sites, biotopes and near-natural river banks. The collected rubbish is weighed and registered after the tour.

Bookings now possible

The green kayaks can be booked in advance on the new app and online for a two-hour trip. No prior experience is needed. Two life jackets, a bucket, two rubbish tongs, a map and a flyer with tips on areas to avoid to protect birds or sensitive plants are all on board. Paddlers can register their catch under the hashtag #greenkayak and share photos of their trip on the app. After Copenhagen and Aarhus, Hamburg was the first European city to go litter hunting. Meanwhile, the cities of Berlin, Dublin, Stockholm, Bergen and three other Danish and Swedish cities each have followed suit.

nj/mm/sb/pb

Sources and further information

Similar articles

Aerial view of a calm river with sailboats and a city skyline with church spires and a TV tower at sunset.

2,000 canoeists collect over 8,000 kgs of waste in Green Kayak event

Company provides free kayaks to clean up lakes and rivers
Aerial view of a sunlit park with dense green trees and a central monument casting a long shadow.

Hamburg's Environmental Partnership draws up new work schedule

Climate protection, energy and sustainable financing top agenda
Aerial view of a cityscape with a large lake, green trees, and modern buildings under a clear sky.

Senate approves draft of new climate protection law

Hamburg State Parliament to vote on tougher climate protection targets in Hamburg Climate Protection Act
Yellow underwater drone tethered and floating on calm blue water surface.

SeaClear 2.0 to focus on cleaning sea surfaces

European consortium and HPA to develop robot system for cleaner seas
The Consent Management Platform (https://app.usercentrics.eu/) we use could not be loaded. This can happen if AdBlockers incorrectly block this URL. Some features such as maps, proximity search or forms, cannot be used this way. To use these features, please deactivate your AdBlocker or allow access to *.usercentrics.eu.