Tirol CleanUP Days

Martina Mayer: Behind Patron Plasticfree Peaks is a young group of committed guys and girls who have now set themselves up as the non-profit organization PATRON e.V.. It was the moments when we were mountaineering, biking, climbing, fly fishing and walking in the mountains and valleys and saw how much waste is left behind, both consciously and unconsciously, that united us. We no longer wanted to stand idly by and decided to take action. Our aim is to give something back to nature and preserve untouched retreats for future generations. We are convinced that with our CleanUP events we can initiate an intrinsic change of consciousness and inspire people to discover the protective instinct within themselves and bring it to life.

Martina Mayer: A lot has happened since our first CleanUP Days in the Allgäu in 2019. Last year alone, over 5,000 volunteers were out and about on over 800 routes in the German and Austrian Alpine region to help us clear nature of garbage. From 2022, Tyrol will also be taking part. How did this come about? It was a mixture of personal initiative and lucky coincidences. We ourselves got to know and love the majestic mountain world of Tyrol with its more than 500 "over 3,000 peaks" on numerous tours, which is why it was a matter of the heart, so to speak, to move from the Allgäu to the Tyrolean "neighborhood". We quickly gained the Austrian National Tourist Office as a partner - and so the train started rolling. Six Tyrolean regions spontaneously came on board and planned the first edition of the Tirol CleanUP Days together with us. But this is just the beginning. We want to establish and expand the event format in Tirol in the long term.

Martina Mayer: Anyone who wants to do something good for nature can take part - whether they are a local or a guest. Registration and route coordination is done via the CleanUP map at plasticfreepeaks.com/tirol. All participants can set the date and route of their chosen tour directly here. The required CleanUP kit for all interested parties, consisting of a recyclable and reusable fabric bag and stainless steel tongs, can be picked up free of charge at one of the numerous distribution points before setting off. These, as well as the drop-off points for the collected waste, can also be found on the CleanUP map. At the end of the event, every litter picker has the chance to win valuable prizes from the competition. On Saturday, July 30, we have also planned a great closing event with a panel discussion and live concerts, where we invite people to exchange ideas on the topic of sustainability.