3,600 volunteers make a difference at the 11th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup

April 24, 2010 - Boston – On April 24th, more than 3,600 volunteers and community leaders will join forces to clean the banks of 80-mile Charles River at the 11th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England Regional Administrator Curt Spaulding and Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) Secretary Ian Bowles will kick off the state’s largest Earth Day event at the River Dock by the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. EPA Administrator Spalding will also use the kick off event to announce the 2009 Charles River Report Card.

Administrator Spalding and Secretary Bowles, along with other state and local government officials joined local school children, college students, corporate groups, community groups, and scout troops to pick up trash, debris, and other objects from the banks of the river in an effort to improve the river’s health and make it more beautiful. An estimated 15-20 tons of trash will be removed from sites throughout the watershed.

“This is our eleventh year organizing the event, and each year we have more volunteers excited to help clean up the river and expand to cover more sites along all 80 miles of the river and throughout the watershed. We are grateful to each and every person who comes out to pick up litter and help restore the Charles River.” said Bob Zimmerman, Executive Director of Charles River Watershed Association.

One of the largest single-day river cleanups in the country, the event was organized by Charles River Watershed Association, The Esplanade Association, Charles River Conservancy, State Senator Steven Tolman’s Office, the City of Newton, The Trustees of Reservations, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

After the cleanup, volunteers gathered at Artesani Playground Park in Allston-Brighton, where free food and beverage were provided for the participants. The picnic finished off a productive and rewarding day beautifying one of Boston’s and Eastern Massachusetts’ premier attractions. All volunteers received a T-shirt designed by Massachusetts College of Art student Anika Ahlberg.

Major sponsors of the event were New Balance Foundation, Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Charles River Apparel, and Mix 104.1. Material and financial contributions for the Charles River Cleanup were provided by Pfizer Inc., Amgen, CDM, Bernardi's Acura of Boston, MIT, International Power – Bellingham, Coca Cola Company, Chestnut Hill Realty, Boston University, The Cadmus Group, Whole Foods – Bellingham, Boston Marriott Newton, Finagle A Bagel, American Rivers, Nova Biomedical, Aquafina, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Brandeis University, Cambridge Boat Club, Boston Sand & Gravel, Russo's, Clean Harbors Environmental, Town of Natick, The Durkin Company, Museum of Science, Cambridge Biomedical Research Group, White Corporation, Community Rowing, Inc., Doubletree Guest Suites, Economy Hardware, Starbucks, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, Swartz True Value, Triumvirate Environmental, and John Harvard's Brew House.