More Than 10 Tons of Waste Collected at the 7th Tisza Lake PET Cup

The 7th Tisza Lake PET Cup has concluded successfully. Despite unfavorable and challenging weather conditions, participants cleared a massive amount of waste—totaling 10.7 tons—from the river, reed beds, and floodplain areas, the PET Cup Association announced.

PET Cup: Record Number of Participants Braved the Elements

Over the four days of the environmental initiative, a total of 386 people participated directly in the river cleanup operations. In the competition, 22 teams took to the water, including 17 returning, experienced crews and 5 newcomer teams. The composition of the field was highly diverse, featuring corporate groups, educational institutions, as well as communities of friends and families. The work of those on the river was supported by a volunteer detachment of more than 40 people, who played a key role in processing and sorting the waste.

The environmental campaign took place along the established route with its center in Tiszafüred, touching upon the sections between Tiszafüred, Tiszaszőlős, Tiszaderzs, and Dinnyéshát.

Stormy Headwinds and Forced Towing During the Race Days

Participants had to face serious natural difficulties during the four days:

• First day on the water: The fleet finished the day in Tiszaszőlős, at which point the waste tally showed 1.9 tons of collected garbage.

• Second day on the water: Extremely strong headwinds made rowing difficult. The progress of the PET boats slowed down so much that they started moving backward toward the start line, ultimately requiring towing. By the end of the day, everyone arrived safely in Tiszaderzs, where the scale already registered 3.7 tons.

• Third race day: Accepting the professional recommendation of Sonar (Upper-Tisza Region Diver and Rescue Association), the organizers towed the PET boats throughout the entire day. This allowed the teams’ canoe units to fully focus on cleaning: along the shortest section, they cleared more than 5 tons of waste from the reed beds and the river floodplain. The day was eventually concluded without any capsizing incidents in Dinnyéshát.

The Winners Announced: Viresol-KALL Becomes the Hero of Lake Tisza

The competition concluded on June 14, and the winners were announced based on the collected quantities and performances. The top-performing team was Viresol-KALL, participating for the fourth time, which claimed first place with more than 13,000 PETák (the event’s score unit). The same team won the “Hero of Lake Tisza” award, which is presented to the team collecting the highest amount of waste per capita.

The second step of the podium was claimed by Siemens Energy, receiving the driftwood trophy for the runner-up. Third place went to the experienced returning team, ERSTE Green. In the strong field, the best-performing newcomer was the Indotek Group’s team, IndoPET, which finished in 9th place. The smallest team in the competition was the EYPW (European Youth Parliament for Water), consisting of just 6 young international participants.

Other participating teams at the event included: MBH Bank, Siemens EvezőSÖK, Vízitücsök, evosoft, NOKIA, MoHullám, Szent László Gimnázium, MATESzedd III., Messer, Henkel, Dabas, KÖTIVIZIG, Budapest Airport, PET Stop Boys, Magyar Termék Hajó, FBN Family Affair, and Bepatech.

Circular Economy and the Journey of the Waste

The 22 teams and volunteers collected a grand total of 10.7 tons (exactly 10,724 kg) of waste. According to expert analyses, more than 50 percent of this enormous quantity is suitable for recycling, meaning it can be reintroduced into the economic cycle.

Although the competition has ended, the post-processing of the waste is continuous. The removal of municipal waste is ensured by MOHU MOL Hulládekgazdálkodási Zrt., an official supporter of the event. The selective materials, as well as those still awaiting sorting, were transported to the River Rescue Centre in Kisköre. Here, volunteers perform further sorting and preparation before handing the materials over for recycling to Hungarian waste processing companies. The River Rescue Centre (FMK) and its FLEX (Floating Exhibition) facility also function as an educational and workshop venue within the international projects of the PET Cup.

The main sponsor of the 7th Tisza Lake PET Cup was the Ministry Responsible for the Living Environment, and its prominent sponsor was the Indotek Group. Lake Tisza also serves as the primary location for corporate team-building events, ensuring that river cleanup campaigns remain continuous in both spring and autumn.

Source: mti