First GPS trackers released in Tolmin to monitor the journey of waste along the River Soča
On 6 March 2026, the Water Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (IzVRS) organised an event in Tolmin ‘For clean waters: ditch the habit, not the waste’, aimed at raising awareness of the issue of waste in rivers and presenting the activities of the international TETHYS4ADRION project. The event took place at the Tolmin Cinema-Theatre and at the confluence of the Tolminka and Soča rivers.
IzVRS organised the event in collaboration with Tolmin Municipality, the France Bevk Primary School in Tolmin and the Tolmin Fishing Association, bringing together researchers, representatives of the local community, specialist institutions and young people.
The opening part of the event featured a recitation by Year 1 pupils from the France Bevk Primary School in Tolmin on the theme of water. The Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Tolmin addressed the gathering, emphasising the importance of preserving the natural environment and the local community’s involvement in protecting rivers.
Recitation by Year 1 pupils from the France Bevk Primary School in Tolmin
In her address, Neža Kodre, Director of IzVRS, highlighted the importance of involving young people in understanding the aquatic environment and managing waste responsibly.
As part of the technical session, Dr Tine Bizjak presented the issue of waste in rivers, its pathways through river systems, and possible solutions for reducing its impact on the aquatic environment. Dr Andrej Kržan from the National Institute of Chemistry presented the TETHYS4ADRION project, which focuses on monitoring the transport of waste via rivers into the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
Dr Tine Bizjak, Slovenian Water Institute
The highlight of the event was the release of two GPS trackers at the confluence of the Tolminka and Soča rivers, which researchers are using to track the path of floating objects down the Soča River towards the sea.
Minister for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Jože Novak
The Minister for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Jože Novak, emphasised:
“At the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, we are committed to taking concrete measures to protect our waters and the natural environment. Today’s project is a good example of this approach – through research, we gain a better understanding of how waste moves along rivers, whilst at the same time we can use this information to develop effective solutions to reduce it. I am also delighted that the Water Institute of the Republic of Slovenia has involved young people in the project.”
Jože Novak, Minister for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, presented the GPS tracker
Neža Kodre, Director of the Institute for Water Resources of the Republic of Slovenia, added:
“Today’s event is taking place as part of the TETHYS4ADRION project, through which we are investigating the pathways of waste in rivers and its transport towards the sea. By monitoring the movement of floating objects, we can better understand the processes in river systems and plan more effective measures to reduce waste in the aquatic environment.”
Director of the Slovenian Water Institute, Neža Kodre, MA
The participation of young people added particular value to the event. A total of 128 pupils from the third, fourth and fifth-year pupils from the France Bevk Primary School in Tolmin, who, following workshops on waste – particularly plastic and microplastics – produced drawings with suggestions for reducing waste in rivers.
An exhibition of the pupils’ artwork was also opened at the event, in which the children presented their ideas and solutions. A panel of experts selected the 12 best drawings, which have been printed on GPS trackers, so their messages are symbolically travelling down the River Soča towards the sea.
The trackers’ journey can be followed on the website izvrstna.si, where there is also an interactive game for young people about water conservation.
A GPS tracker on its journey down the River Soča
The project will continue in the coming months, when a further ten trackers, featuring selected artworks by pupils, will be released into the river to continue monitoring the journey of waste down the River Soča towards the sea. The involvement of young people added particular value to the event. A total of 128 pupils from Years 3, fourth and fifth-year pupils from the France Bevk Primary School in Tolmin took part in the art competition; following workshops on waste, particularly plastic and microplastics, they produced drawings with suggestions for reducing waste in rivers.
An exhibition of the pupils’ artwork was also opened at the event, in which the children presented their ideas and solutions. A panel of experts selected the 12 best drawings, which have been printed on GPS trackers, so their messages are symbolically travelling down the River Soča towards the sea.
Exhibition of pupils’ artwork at the Tolmin Cinema-Theatre