UBB Removed 3,989 Pounds of Trash From the Anacostia River

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Location: Washington DC

Date: October 08, 201110:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Over a year and half, we've seen some unusual things at our cleanups, but cleaning up along the River Terrace Recreation Area in D.C. was unlike anything we have come across. Amongst the reeds of the marshlands that bordered the shores of the Anacostia were layers of food wrappers and thousands of plastic bottles. In total, we picked up 3,989 pounds of trash from the Anacostia River! 

Just beyond a popular foot trail was an illegal dumpsite that contained mountains of household items, furniture, tires and construction materials. One bountiful item that always makes an appearance during most cleanups is the plastic bag, but the plastic bag was nowhere to be seen on Saturday. Last year, DC implemented a bag tax and eventually plastic bags became outlawed.

Even though millions of people visit Washington D.C every year and the Anacostia River hugs our nation’s capital, the Anacostia is commonly called "D.C.'s forgotten river". This past spring, this 8.4 mile river was deemed “one of the most polluted waterways in the nation.” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), more than 20,000 tons of trash and debris enter the Anacostia's waters each year. From 1989 to 2009, Anacostia Watershed Society volunteers have removed 850 tons of trash from the watershed. There are over 800,000 people living within the Anacostia River watershed in a 176 square mile area that occupies the eastern half of DC and significant portions of Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in MD. 

This cleanup produced more than just a boatload of trash, our strange trash assortment included a carving knife, a mannequin head, a car boot, car keys, a baby doll whose dress sprouted plants and baby bottle, plastic peaches, a tape player and metal veggie peeler. This cleanup would not have been a success without the Starbucks located on New Jersey Ave, Anacostia Watershed Society, Rodgers Brothers Service, University of Maryland Beta Iota Omicron Honor Society, National Park Service, DC Department of Public Works Helping Hands Program and our wonderful volunteers.