Volunteers in Norfolk with some of the trash they collected. Photo by Pat Conaway

11th Annual Earth Day
Charles River Cleanup

Saturday, April 24, 2010
9am - 12pm
At sites all along the Charles River
and its tributaries

Volunteer info
Sponsors | For the press
2009 Cleanup

Thank you volunteers!

Many thanks to the 3,600 volunteers along all 80 miles of the Charles River who helped pick up trash at the 11th Annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 24!

• There were more than 140 different community, school, corporate and religious groups who participated.
• 168 sites in 22 communities along and around the Charles River were cleaned up.
• Approximately 10-15 tons of trash was removed from the riverbanks.
• Volunteers removed more than 160 tires throughout the watershed.
• Most common trash items found were styrofoam pieces, cigarette butts, plastic bags, bottles and cans.
• Unusual items picked up included a motorcycle, a plastic bench, three car transmissions and many other car parts, a rollerblade, a stairmaster, and construction signs.

Click here to view our 2010 volunteer thank-you flier (PDF).

View an album of photos from this year's Cleanup!

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.

Many of our cleanup groups have been involved with the event for years. Click on the links below for a profile of some of our most dedicated groups:

• Watertown East End Neighbors
• MIT Sea Grant

Click here to download a PDF flier with information about the event.

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 CRWA for more information or to donate. Click here for contact information.

Please note: Only official sponsors are permitted at the Earth Day Charles River Cleanup and on state park property, so if you would like to distribute products or otherwise reach out to volunteers, you must sponsor the event.

Thank you to Anika Ahlberg, a junior at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, who won the design contest for this year's Cleanup t-shirt design. We have collaborated with MassArt since 2006, thanks to instructors Irena Roman and Nick Edlund, to provide fun and unique designs for the Cleanup t-shirts.

Many thanks to the current supporters of our 2010 Cleanup:

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

For the press

Click here to download a complete list (PDF) of all the 2010 Cleanup sites - in 20 different watershed cities/towns - and participating groups.

For additional inquiries, please contact CRWA at 781-788-0007.

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!