Every year, Project Clean Stream (PCS) hosts several trash pickups, drawing tens of thousands of volunteers to come together with the common goal of cleaning up and promoting the health and restoration of their local waterways. Trash pickups are a fundamental part of PCS, as they provide hands-on opportunities for community members and organizations to engage in environmental stewardship and take action. These events take place in local streams, rivers, creeks, and neighborhoods, fostering a sustainable relationship with the Chesapeake Bay on an individual and community level.

A group of people standing behind a large collection of garbage bags

A proud group photo of our volunteers from the Pennsylvania Project Clean Stream Spring 2024 kickoff

This summer, I had the opportunity to join the Alliance team as the Environmental Projects Intern. During my time at the Alliance, I worked on a visualization project to map areas in the Chesapeake Bay watershed where the 2024 PCS events took place. This map displays the success of the past spring season, as 54 PCS events were held with 1,032 volunteers participating, and removing a grand total of 28,008 pounds of trash!

Trash pickups are integral to the community, creating educational opportunities for volunteers to learn about how their everyday actions impact the health of their local waterways. Mismanaged litter and debris can accumulate in the water, leading to the degradation and modification of ecosystems and natural habitats. Additionally, trash can negatively impact water quality, creating health and safety risks for surrounding communities. For example, many types of trash contain materials (such as metal and plastic) that degrade slowly and release toxic chemicals into the water.

A large pile of garbage bags sitting next to a parking lot

The total trash collected from the Pennsylvania Project Clean Stream Spring 2024 kickoff

Ultimately, these trash pickups are vital, as they offer direct mitigation opportunities for volunteers, allowing them to help restore and connect with their own communities. Thank you to all of our spring volunteers. We look forward to seeing you this fall!

A young person smiles and holds up a grill lid

One of our many enthusiastic volunteers at the Pennsylvania Spring 2024 kickoff

Do you know of any local areas that could benefit from a trash pickup? Fill out our trashy area form to start the action! Or, join us on Friday, September 13 to kick off the fall PCS season.

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By Rachel Weghorst, Environmental Projects Intern