#CleanUpPlateau Challenge: Achieve great things together & clean up

The CleanUpPlateau Challenge ran for 4 days from April 27 to 30. All participants had to do was pick up a large trash bag from one of the region's public works yards, equip themselves with gloves (and optional grabbers), and off they went. Collections could be made anywhere in the region, subject to compliance with the applicable COVID-19 measures. Those who brought back at least 5 kilos of garbage within the four days were rewarded with a €15 voucher that could be redeemed in the region's catering establishments. From the region, for the region and above all for the cohesion and the unique nature that surrounds us.

Of course, anyone can do such a #CleanUpChallenge at home: All you need is a large garbage bag, gloves, maybe a pair of tongs, and you're ready to go on an extended cleanup walk.

A proud 203 participants from the region took part in the #CleanUpPlateau Challenge - a result that pleases us greatly. A whole 2.02 tons of trash were collected in the process. "It's a shame that the Challenge is so easy," said Scharnitz Mayor Isabella Blaha aptly. "One would rather find nothing than master the Challenge already on the first day". Over 10 kilograms of trash was collected on average by each participant. Monika and Hansi Bantl from Leutasch even collected over 50 kilograms on the first day - a proud achievement! Not only they, but also numerous other participants collected so much that they had to transport the garbage bags away by car or cart.

The nature that surrounds us is not only our living space. It is much more than that: It is our power place, energy supplier, gives us fresh air and Co2, is soil for delicious alpine herbs, lush meadows, green forests and clean water, fodder supplier for our cows, cultivation place for our fresh vegetables - and also the reason for which so many people visit us so gladly every year. In nature we find rest, recreation, strength, energy and nourishment.

It is not only in difficult times like these that we realize again how important nature is for us. We need to preserve biodiversity, protect animals and habitats, and keep it free of plastic and trash.

Did you know that a cigarette butt takes 2 to 7 years to decompose? This also exposes pollutants and toxins (such as heavy metals, tar, etc.). Worst of all, if cigarette butts get into bodies of water, they can contaminate 50 to 60 liters of drinking water and poison the fish and animals living in it.

A tin can takes 50 to 500 years to decompose, a plastic bottle 100 to 5000 years, a glass bottle takes 4000 years to infinity. In addition, plasticizers leak out and animals get injured by the sharp edges. Plastic bags and other items made of plastic, such as the wrappers of cereal bars, etc., take 100 to 200 years to decompose. Even the supposedly not so bad handkerchiefs still take 1 to 5 years and do immense harm to the environment and animals. The same applies to orange and banana peels, which people like to throw into nature because they "decompose by themselves anyway": they need at least 1 to 3 years, and that only in tropical climates, which we do not have. (Source of data: Alpenverein.at)

Also this year we & hopefully many motivated participants make an important contribution to our nature: The #CleanUpPlateau Challenge will again take place on the Seefeld Plateau. The date is set: From Thursday, May 6 to Sunday, May 9, 2021 you can again diligently collect trash and earn a voucher for a stop in the gastronomy in the region!