more than 350 tons of waste are collected each year

Wild deposits on the banks, thousands of plastic waste floating adrift. It is the daily life of the mariners of the Belenos, the boat depolluter who has been criss-crossing the Hauts-de-Seine for ten years. In just two days of harvesting, nearly 700 kilos of waste in all kind are picked up : Vélib, shopping cart and lots of plastic waste. Every year, at least 350 tons are collected and the numbers do not decrease. Pollution is even present behind the marinas, we can not even distinguish the water.

In the Yvelines, a few volunteers are trying to eliminate the floating landfill. But the task is so great that it is daunting. “We need people and materials”, says Jeremy Of the mayor, from the Association “A Cleaner Mantois”. According to the floods, the pockets of pollution multiply since the waste thrown in the street ends up in the river, towed by the rainwater. To trap some of this waste, a simple solution is being tested in Goussainville (Val d’Oise) : nets installed at the outlet of the rainwater collection network. Ten devices of this kind exist on the outskirts of the Seine currently. It would take between 100 and 150 to be really effective.