#CleanUpPlateau Challenge: Achieving greatness together & cleaning up

The CleanUpPlateau Challenge took place over 4 days from April 27 to 30. Each participant simply had to pick up a large garbage bag from one of the local waste management sites, equip themselves with gloves (and optionally a grabber), and off they went. Trash could be collected anywhere in the region, while adhering to the applicable COVID-19 measures. Those who brought back at least 5 kilograms of trash within the four days would receive a reward: a €15 voucher redeemable at the regional gastronomy establishments. From the region, for the region, and above all for the unity and the unique nature that surrounds us.

Of course, everyone can also do a #CleanUpChallenge at home: all you need is a large garbage bag, gloves, possibly a grabber, and you can go for an extended cleaning walk.

Proud 203 participants from the region took part in the #CleanUpPlateau challenge - a result that makes us very happy. A total of 2.02 tons of waste was collected. "It's a pity that the challenge is so easy," said Scharnitz Mayor Isabella Blaha aptly. "One would rather find nothing than master the challenge on the very first day." Each participant collected an average of over 10 kilograms of waste. Monika and Hansi Bantl from Leutasch even collected over 50 kilograms on the first day - an impressive achievement! Not only they, but also many other participants collected so much that they had to transport the garbage bags by cart or car.

The nature that surrounds us is not just our habitat. It is much more than that: It is our power place, a provider of energy, gives us fresh air and CO2, is the ground for delicious alpine herbs, lush meadows, green forests, and clean water, provides feed for our cows, and a growing area for our fresh vegetables – and also the reason why so many people love to visit us every year. In nature, we find peace, relaxation, strength, energy, and sustenance.

It's not just in difficult times like these that we realize how important nature is for us again. We must preserve biodiversity, protect animals and habitats, and keep them free from plastic and waste.

Did you know that a cigarette butt takes 2 to 7 years to decompose? During this time, harmful substances and toxins (such as heavy metals, tar, etc.) are released. The worst part: when cigarette butts enter waterways, they can contaminate 50 to 60 liters of drinking water and poison the fish and animals living there.

A tin can takes 50 to 500 years to decompose, a plastic bottle takes 100 to 5000 years, a glass bottle takes 4000 years to forever. Additionally, plasticizers leach out, and animals can injure themselves on the sharp edges. Plastic bags and other plastic items, such as cereal bar wrappers, take 100 to 200 years to decompose. Even the seemingly less harmful tissues take between 1 to 5 years, which causes significant damage to the environment and animals. The same applies to orange and banana peels, which are often thrown into nature because they "will decompose on their own": they take at least 1 to 3 years, and that only in tropical climates, which we do not have here. (Source of the data: Alpenverein.at)