Working Toward Litter-Free Waterways
There are over 50 billion pieces of litter obstructing our waterways, neighborhoods, roadways, and natural spaces. The impacts of litter are numerous: it can lead to poor water quality, harm aquatic life, impair drinking water supplies, clog storm drains, create breeding grounds for bacteria and disease that can be spread to humans, and pollute outdoor recreation and tourism spaces.
For over 15 years, River Network has supported our network members in tackling their aquatic litter issues by identifying and implementing long-term, relevant solutions. During this time, we observed that litter is unique to each community, and solutions must take that into consideration. The resources presented on this page can be applied in a variety of ways, tailored to what your community and watershed needs.
Explore the resources below to kick-off new litter removal efforts, or to further support and bolster current efforts.
Waste in Our Waters: A Community Toolkit for Aquatic Litter Removal
This step-by-step guide will help you address litter in your community, both before and after it reaches your local waterway.
Learn to Apply the Toolkit in Your Community
River Network is proud to provide this free-to-access, easy to understand toolkit. Within, you’ll find a variety of strategies, activities, and specific devices to help address aquatic litter in your community. Whether you’re a community organization, concerned citizen, or local decision-maker, Waste in Our Waters will walk you through assessing your community’s aquatic litter issues, planning a cleanup effort, choosing a litter capture device, responsibly disposing of the waste you collect, and more. The featured strategies, activities, and devices can be implemented across the country.
Watch: Addressing Litter in Community Waterways
In this five-part video series, we explore how two of our partners in Alabama and Minnesota piloted their own litter capture device projects. Each story offers tips on partnership development, community engagement and education, how to select an install site, and ways to secure long-term funding.
What Our Network Members Are Working On
Read the latest from our staff and partners on our litter work and what’s happening across the network:
- Blog: Litter In Our Nation’s Waterways And Communities, Grace Fullmer
Additional Resources
Thank You to Our Funders and Partners
