Environmental activists launch campaign to clean Dukan River, promote art
The campaign successfully collected several tons of bottles, plastic cans, and discarded waste, which will be transformed into works of art.

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a significant environmental initiative, over 200 activists and volunteers participated in a cleanup campaign along the Dukan River, removing dirt and tourist debris from a four-kilometer stretch.
The campaign successfully collected several tons of bottles, plastic cans, and discarded waste, which will be transformed into works of art.
Following the Dukan River campaign, a team of volunteers is gearing up to clean a section of the Little Zab River below the dam, this time focusing on a different environmental purpose.
Omid Khalid, one of the volunteers, expressed his motivation for participating in the cleanup. "I wanted to do this volunteer work because of the pollution in Sulaimani caused by plastic materials, which can increase the risk of cancer. We collected these materials in a scientific manner."
Among the volunteers was 12-year-old environmental activist Darawan, who emphasized the serious health and environmental threats posed by plastic waste. He proposed an innovative approach to waste collection, suggesting the use of brown gunny bags instead of nylon bags to gather discarded materials.
The campaign's organizers aim to convey a broader message beyond cleaning the river; they intend to repurpose the collected waste into art.
"We have a platform that involves several successful Kurdish and Iraqi artists. After the campaign, plastic, glass, and garbage will be taken to the institute, where artists will create environmental awareness artworks to display on the streets for the public to see," said an organizer.
This initiative marks the second cleanup campaign within a month, demonstrating the commitment of local activists to address environmental issues.
During this campaign, volunteers collected dozens of tons of bottles, cans, and plastic discarded by tourists, reinforcing the need for sustainable practices in preserving the natural beauty of the region.
Further reporting was done by Kurdistan24's correspondent Aras Ameen.