# Plastic Origins > Citizen science app for mapping riverbank plastic pollution. (iPhone/iPad app by Surfrider Foundation Europe.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plastic-origins/id1532710998 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Surfrider Foundation Europe](https://appshunter.io/developer/392930201) - Category: Utilities - Price: Free - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 41 MB - Released: 2020-10-19 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plastic-origins/id1532710998/reviews.md ## What is Plastic Origins? Plastic Origins is a citizen data collection project developed by the NGO Surfrider Foundation Europe (www.surfrider.eu) which aims to map macro-waste pollution washed up along the banks of Europe's rivers. The results will allow to identify and alert the most affected territories, to propose solutions to local actors and to measure the evolution of the pollution in time. To take part in the project, all you have to do is travel along the river around you, either by walking from the riverbank or using a kayak or any other watercraft from the water. You can use your smartphone and the Plastic Origins app to report the litter you find on your way. You have two options: 1. Using the manual mode, signal the presence of waste, bulky items, or accumulation areas by clicking on the corresponding buttons. 2. In development, the automatic mode will aim to identify such waste directly from videos thanks to artificial intelligence. You must of course know how to swim and go out on the field in optimal safety conditions. Surfrider cannot be held responsible in case of accident, loss or damage of the equipment. The data collected can be viewed at www.plasticorigins.eu. Surfrider Foundation Europe will report the results of the project at the national and European level to raise awareness among policy makers and encourage them to act. Locally, you can use these data to point out the most polluted areas and highlight the need to act against this pollution. Thanks to your results, we will know where to act and we will be able to measure the efficiency of our actions! Ready to contribute? Here is what you can do: 1. Visit our website to learn more about the project (www.plasticorigins.eu) and Surfrider's actions (www.surfrider.eu). You will find presentation and training videos to understand the program and have all the necessary information before going on the field. We invite you to subscribe to one of our online trainings! 2. Install the Plastic Origins application on your smartphone, create an account and familiarize yourself with its features. 3. Contact us (plasticorigins@surfrider.eu) if you have any questions about how the app works or how to get involved! 4. Take some time for yourself, spend some time in nature and use the time to collect some data. Many of the digital tools used in the project were developed by volunteers. This project would not have been possible without their invaluable help. Thanks to them! All codes and algorithms are open-source and available on our GitHub page (https://github.com/surfriderfoundationeurope). ## Key features - Map macro-waste pollution - Manual litter reporting - AI-powered video analysis (in development) - Contribute to environmental data - Identify pollution hotspots - Track pollution evolution ## Recent user reviews (3 of 3) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plastic-origins/id1532710998/reviews.md ### 1/5 — rien a changer *2024-05-23, version 1.7.3* l application n existe pas sur apple store rien n'a été fait ### 1/5 — Inscription impossible *2023-12-04, version 1.7.3* Inscription impossible ### 1/5 — Comment ça marche ? *2022-02-19, version 1.0* Bonjour, belle initiative mais comment ça marche ? J’ai 3 pages d’évocation et rien d’autre😥 ## Frequently asked questions about Plastic Origins ### What is Plastic Origins? Plastic Origins is a citizen data collection project by Surfrider Foundation Europe to map macro-waste pollution along European riverbanks. It helps identify polluted areas and track pollution over time. ### How do I contribute to Plastic Origins? You can contribute by walking or kayaking along a river and using the app to report litter you find. You can manually signal waste or, in the future, use AI to identify waste from videos. ### Is Plastic Origins free to use? Yes, Plastic Origins is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees. ### What devices does Plastic Origins support? Plastic Origins is available for iPhone and iPod. It is designed for mobile use in the field. ### How often is Plastic Origins updated? The app was last updated on August 4, 2023, with version 1.7.3. This indicates ongoing development and maintenance by the Surfrider Foundation Europe. ### What is the age rating for Plastic Origins? Plastic Origins has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in contributing to environmental efforts. ### Does Plastic Origins have ads? No, Plastic Origins does not contain advertisements. The app is developed by a non-profit organization focused on its mission. ### Where can I see the data collected by Plastic Origins? The data collected through the Plastic Origins app can be viewed on the project's website at www.plasticorigins.eu. This data is used to inform policy and local action. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.7.3 — 2023-08-04 This new version contains mainly improvements and updates: - The new design of the tracking page allows you to find your way on a map in real time, to know the distance travelled and the duration of the tracking - The waste categories have been simplified - The conditions of use of the application have changed - The application is now available in Italian ### 1.7.1 — 2023-06-01 This new version contains mainly improvements and updates: - The new design of the tracking page allows you to find your way on a map in real time, to know the distance travelled and the duration of the tracking - The waste categories have been simplified - The conditions of use of the application have changed - The application is now available in Italian ### 1.3.4 — 2022-09-13 This new version contains mainly improvements and updates. You can now read a guide of the categories of litter items to report! ### 1.0 — 2020-10-19 No release notes. ## More apps by Surfrider Foundation Europe - [Ocean's Zero](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oceans-zero/id1437627143) All apps by Surfrider Foundation Europe: https://appshunter.io/developer/392930201 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*