Saubermacher and Johanna Mikl-Leitner crown Reefvillage Association a ‘climate protection hero’

How does waste find its way into the sea? Images of floating waste islands, beaches strewn with litter and hazards for marine animals are a constant presence in the media. But how does waste find its way into the sea? The majority comes from polluted rivers which carry the waste out to sea. The Reefvillage Association in Austria is busy tackling this problem and since October 2020 has been organising annual clean-up dives with willing volunteers. The dives cover a section of the Danube, and any waste found in the river is collected. Saubermacher has been taking care of the professional and sustainable disposal of the waste since 2021. In recognition of its commitment, Reefvillage was awarded the title ‘climate protection hero’ by State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Saubermacher at a ceremony aboard the Danube vessel ‘MS Austria Princess’ yesterday evening.

‘Mr Aigner and the team at Reefvillage make an important and extraordinary contribution to protecting our River Danube. We hope that this recognition will act not just as a sign of our appreciation, but will also help to encourage even more volunteers to make the commitment,’ affirmed Governor of the State of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, in her speech at the ceremony.

From coral reef to Danube clean-up. The Reefvillage Association was founded to establish artificial coral reefs in regions in which nature has been harmed, e.g. due to natural disasters, mass tourism, etc. The idea to contribute directly to tackling ocean pollution here in Austria came about during the travel restrictions brought in during the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, there has been a clean-up on the Danube every October, with 50 divers and 100 other volunteers actively involved last year. The divers have already been able to recover some 30 tonnes of waste from the Danube.

‘Doing nothing is not an option! We are all guests in this wonderful world, which means that it’s our responsibility to protect it and to give something back,’ explained Martin Aigner, CEO of Reefvillage.

Spotlight on environmental commitment. Founder of Saubermacher, Hans Roth, has a particular focus on creating an environment worth living in. Responsible and sustainable enterprise, environmental protection and social commitment are especially important pillars within the company. The ‘climate protection hero’ award was first awarded two years ago as a way to proactively thank environmentalists. Hans Roth is proud of what Reefvillage does: ‘It acts as an impressive role model and plays an important role in the fight against marine pollution. Its initiatives also motivate others to work together to take action and responsibility for our environment. Its work helps shine a spotlight on the commitment that is so urgently needed to help protect our environment.’

‘We must continue to succeed in winning over citizens to more environmental protection. We can do this through campaigns, such as cleaning in waste management, but also through the highlighting of special achievements, as we do today with the climate protection prize,’ explained Anton Kasser, Member of Parliament for Lower Austria and President of the Lower Austrian environmental associations.

‘The local communities are examples to follow, trendsetters and multipliers in environmental and climate protection. It starts with establishment of a cycle path and then moves on to waste recycling all the way through to solar power generation for community facilities. Each public initiative by the community is also an incentive and a stimulus for others to participate or to become active. Ultimately it’s the responsibility of all of us to fellow citizens and to the next generation to act with ecology in mind and in the spirit of a circular economy,’ explains Johannes Pressl, President of the Lower Austrian association of municipalities.

As a symbolic gesture, the Association received an environmental trophy designed by artist Axel Staudinger, a certificate and a monetary reward of €2500. In addition to the familiar Hans Roth environmental award, which has been awarded in Austria since 2003 and in Slovenia since 2012 to promote young scientists in sustainable disposal and recycling, the new ‘climate protection hero’ award is aimed at private individuals, associations and organisations. The prize was awarded for the first time in 2021 when it went to Severin Pock of Graz for his waste collection and anti-littering efforts.