Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, in collaboration with the Alzette and Chiers river partnerships, has announced the launch of a cleanup operation targeting the banks and floodplains of the Alzette and Chiers rivers and their tributaries, taking place from Monday 23 February to Saturday 7 March 2026.

This cross-border initiative is organised in close collaboration with the municipalities involved in the Alzette and Chiers river partnerships, the Pays Haut Val d'Alzette inter-municipal authority in the French Alzette watershed, as well as with the Greater Longwy urban area and the Semois-Chiers river contract in the Chiers watershed. Its objective is to remove waste and human-caused deposits that have accumulated along riverbanks and in floodplains, in order to protect waterways and their habitats.

Every year, large quantities of waste - including plastics, packaging, metal objects, bulky items and construction debris - are deposited in riverbeds, on banks and in floodplains. These materials originate from intentional dumping, wind transport, surface runoff or drainage systems.

Regardless of their origin, such waste represents a source of pollution and can:

  • obstruct water flow and contribute to flooding;
  • degrade the physicochemical quality of the water;
  • impair visual quality;
  • harm aquatic and riparian flora and fauna, particularly through ingestion or entanglement.

By weakening ecosystems already under significant pressure, this waste compromises the proper functioning of aquatic environments, noted the authorities. They added that removing this waste allows municipalities to contribute directly to biodiversity preservation and supports the restoration of more natural and resilient rivers.

Carried out alongside river renaturation projects, measures from the District Hydrographic Management Plan and actions supported by the "Naturpakt" (nature pact), this initiative forms part of the ongoing joint efforts of the state and municipalities to promote healthy rivers capable of regaining a balanced ecosystem.

A total of thirteen Luxembourg municipalities will participate in the mobilisation:

  • Alzette River Partnership: Esch-sur-Alzette, Dudelange, Rumelange, Kayl, Sanem, Schifflange, Mondercange, Bettembourg, Roeser and Hesperange.
  • Chiers River Partnership: Differdange, Bascharage, Pétange and Sanem.