East Watertown Neighbors, including Atrium School, with their trash pile Photo by Tara Keppler

11th Annual Earth Day
Charles River Cleanup

Saturday, April 24, 2010
9am - 12pm

At sites all along the Charles River and its tributaries

Volunteer
Sponsors | Background Info
2009 Cleanup

Come volunteer!

Come join more than 3,000 other volunteers along all 80 miles of the Charles River in the 11th Annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 24 from 9am-12pm! You will be part of a group picking up trash (including shopping carts, plastic bottles, and old tires) from along the banks of the Charles River at one of more than 50 sites from Boston to Milford. Volunteers are provided with supplies, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped improve the health and beauty of the Charles River!

The Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup is organized by a collaborative of groups interested in environmental and river issues: Charles River Watershed Association,  Senator Steven Tolman's Office, Charles River Conservancy, The Esplanade Association, the City of Newton, The Trustees of Reservations, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

In order to efficiently organize over 3,000 volunteers representing more than 100 organizations who help clean up along the river and the watershed's streams and ponds, we have divided the watershed and towns into eight 'regions', each supervised by a regional volunteer coordinator. Click here to view a color-coded map of the regions and get coordinator's contact info.

If you would like to organize a group of volunteers, volunteer yourself, or get more information, please call or email the appropriate coordinator, and include where you'd like to volunteer, the name of and number of volunteers in your group, and your contact information.  We provide supplies and instructions, and are also invited to attend a post-cleanup thank you picnic.

If you would like general information on the Cleanup, or aren't sure who to contact, please email charles@crwa.org or call 781-788-0007 x303. Thanks!

Cleanup Sponsors

Would you, your business or organization like to sponsor this year's Cleanup? We appreciate both monetary and in-kind donations of Cleanup supplies (such as trash bags and gloves). All sponsors will be listed on our website, and mentioned in press releases; some sponsorship levels include a logo on our event t-shirt. Click here to download a complete list of sponsorship options and benefits (PDF). Please contact Rebecca Scibek Wickham at 781-788-0007 x200 or for more information or to donate.

Many thanks to the current supporters of our 2010 Cleanup:

Click here to view a list of all our 2009 Cleanup sponsors.

Senator John Kerry speaks with volunteers at the 2007 Cleanup. Photo by Lucas Wickham

Background information

Background information on the Cleanup from the the Spring 2007 issue of CRWA's Streamer newsletter:

".. the Charles River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Community Water Watch (a project of MassPIRG, Americorps, and MA Service Alliance), and the Charles River Stream Team planned the 2000 cleanup to mark the new millennium on Earth Day and showcase river health improvements by engaging watershed residents in one single-day cleanup effort... . The high volunteer turnout revealed a public desire to participate in community service on behalf of the Charles, and the annual event was born." Read the complete article (PDF).

Cleanup organizers & partners

The 11th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup is a part MA DCR's Park Serves Day and the American Rivers National River Cleanup.

2009 Cleanup

Click here to learn more about last year's Cleanup. View a list of volunteer groups and sponsors, and find out how much garbage we collected!