Aquatic Plastic Podcast #10

Before the Plastic Cup became an international river-cleanup movement, it started with a single, unsettling moment on the Tisza River. In this episode of Aquatic Plastic, hosts Attila David Molnar and Gergely Hankó look back at the very beginnings—sharing personal memories, early failures, improvised ideas and the unexpected decisions that turned frustration into long-term action.

No Guest—Just the Story Itself

This episode is different. There is no external guest, only the hosts themselves revisiting how the Plastic Cup was born more than 13 years ago. The conversation unfolds as an honest, often humorous reflection on how little was planned—and how much had to be learned along the way.

The Moment Everything Changed

The story begins during a flood filming on the Tisza in 2013. Instead of wildlife footage, the river delivered a shocking sight: plastic bottles everywhere. What was meant to be a routine filming job turned into a moment that could not be forgotten.

That day marked the real beginning. Not of a project yet—but of a question: What can be done?

Why a Plastic Bottle Boat?

The breakthrough came unexpectedly. The idea was simple, playful—and powerful. If waste was already floating on the river, why not turn it into a tool?

The concept of a plastic-bottle boat became the foundation of the Plastic Cup: cleaning rivers through creativity, teamwork and a sense of adventure rather than blame or fear.

From Film Idea to Community Event

Originally imagined as a documentary, the idea quickly grew into something more. The Plastic Cup features multiple bottle boats competing on the river—mixing cleanup with games, challenges and shared experiences. What started as storytelling turned into participation.

Mistakes were common. Permissions were unclear. Authorities were skeptical. Storms were stronger than expected. But the event happened—and people came back.

Resistance, Persistence and Trust

Early reactions from local communities and municipalities were mixed. Some welcomed the initiative; others asked the organizers not to come back. Trust had to be earned slowly, by showing up year after year.

Continuity became key. Without returning regularly, the organizers realized, local support would never grow.

Small Steps, Big Impact

Looking back, the numbers speak for themselves: hundreds of plastic bottle boats built, thousands of participants involved, more than a thousand river kilometers covered, and hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles removed from rivers.

But the hosts agree that the real achievement goes beyond numbers. The Plastic Cup proved that environmental action can be joyful, inclusive and human—without ignoring risks or challenges.

Why This Story Matters Now

This episode of Aquatic Plastic is a reminder that meaningful change often starts without a master plan. It starts with noticing a problem, refusing to look away, and being willing to try something new—even if it feels naïve at first.

The “heroic age” of the Plastic Cup shows how creativity, persistence and community can turn a polluted river into a shared cause.

Aquatic Plastic is brought to you by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, co-funded by the European Union. Operating within the world's most international river basin, the Aquatic Plastic Danube-Region Interreg project unites 33 organizations spanning 10 countries. Together, we are executing 19 pilot actions and developing 8 solutions aimed at preventing, reducing, and managing plastic pollution in the natural waterways of the Danube River Basin. How do we navigate through such diverse borders? Explore further by delving into our report, and begin following our journey on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.