New England is crisscrossed by rivers, brooks and ponds. They run behind schools, past apartment complexes and through city parks. These waterways provide habitat for fish, turtles, birds and insects, places for people to walk and paddle, and green corridors through busy neighborhoods. They also collect litter: bottles, bags, food containers and debris that blow in from streets or are left by visitors. Because rivers flow downstream, inland litter can eventually reach the ocean. A riverbank or pond clean-up is a hands-on way to protect water close to home.
How Inland Clean-Ups Differ From Beach Clean-Ups
Many principles are similar to a beach clean-up, but inland waterways have some special considerations:
- Steep, slippery banks: Riverbanks can be muddy, rocky or eroded.
- Moving water: Even shallow-looking rivers can have strong currents.
- Dense vegetation: Brush, poison ivy and thorny plants are common.
- Ticks: Grassy and wooded edges are prime tick habitat in summer.
- Varied ownership: Banks may be public parkland, private property or conservation land.
Step 1: Choose a Site and Get Permission
- Identify who manages the land: a city park, the state, a land trust, a conservation commission or a private owner. Your city or town website or a call to 311 where available can help.
- Ask about any permission needed for a group clean-up.
- Arrange trash pickup in advance. Find out where to leave bags and who collects them.
- Ask whether there are sensitive areas, such as nesting sites or restoration plantings, to avoid.
Step 2: Scout the Site
Visit before the event:
- Find safe access points with gentle slopes.
- Note hazards like steep drop-offs, unstable banks, fast water or poison ivy.
- Identify where litter collects, such as bends in the river, culvert outlets and footpaths.
- Locate parking, restrooms and a meeting spot.
Step 3: Gather Supplies
- Sturdy gloves for everyone
- Buckets and heavy-duty trash bags
- Trash grabbers
- A hard-sided container for broken glass
- Closed-toe shoes or boots with good grip (no sandals)
- Long pants and long sleeves for brush and ticks
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- First-aid kit
- Water and snacks
- Hand sanitizer and wipes
Step 4: Hold a Safety Briefing
Start with a clear, friendly safety talk:
- Stay out of the water. Work from the bank only. Do not wade into rivers or ponds.
- Watch your footing. Avoid steep, crumbling or slippery banks.
- Do not touch needles, syringes or unknown containers. Mark the location and report it.
- Leave large or heavy items like tires, shopping carts or appliances for the land manager to handle, unless they have arranged equipment and trained help.
- Avoid poison ivy. Remember “leaves of three, let it be.”
- Use a buddy system, and keep kids close.
- Leave wildlife alone. Do not disturb nests, turtles or animals.
- Take breaks and drink water.
Step 5: Organize Teams
- Bank teams: Work along the top of the bank and accessible edges.
- Path teams: Clear trails and nearby grassy areas.
- Bag runners: Carry full bags to the collection point.
- Tally keeper: Records what is found, if you are tracking.
What You Might Find
- Plastic bottles and cans
- Food wrappers and takeout containers
- Plastic bags snagged in branches
- Fishing line and lures (handle carefully; hooks are sharp)
- Foam pieces
- Balls, toys and clothing
Fishing line deserves special attention. It can entangle birds and other animals, so remove it carefully, cut it into short pieces and bag it.
After the Clean-Up
- Gather everyone and do a headcount.
- Place bags at the agreed pickup spot.
- Wash hands thoroughly.
- Do a tick check on yourself, kids and pets, and remind everyone to check again at home.
- Share your tally and thank volunteers.
- Report any hazardous items you marked.
Prevention: Stopping Litter Before It Reaches the Water
Much river litter starts on streets and sidewalks. Neighbors can help prevent it by:
- Securing trash and recycling bins so lids stay closed on windy days
- Picking up litter on streets near waterways
- Reporting overflowing public trash cans near rivers and parks
- Asking the land manager whether more bins would help at popular spots
- Encouraging anglers and visitors to pack out what they bring, including fishing line
Make It a Recurring Effort
Consider adopting a stretch of riverbank or pond shoreline for regular clean-ups throughout the summer and fall. Over time, you may notice less litter, more wildlife and more neighbors enjoying the water. Photos taken before and after, without identifiable people unless they consent, are a great way to show progress.
Involving Kids and Teens
Waterway clean-ups are great learning experiences for young people. Kids can help sort recyclables, keep the tally sheet or look for signs of wildlife from a safe distance, such as tracks, birds or turtles sunning on logs. Teens can lead small teams once trained in the safety rules. Keep younger children well away from the water’s edge and steep banks, and pair every child with an adult.
Learn About Your Watershed
A watershed is the area of land that drains into a particular river or body of water. Your library or local conservation groups can help you learn which watershed your neighborhood is in and where your local stream eventually flows. Understanding the connection makes every bag of litter removed feel even more meaningful.
A Clean-Up Planning Checklist
- Confirm land manager and permission.
- Arrange trash pickup.
- Scout the site for access and hazards.
- Gather gloves, bags and safety supplies.
- Recruit volunteers and share what to wear.
- Hold a safety briefing.
- Do tick checks afterward.
Every bag of litter removed from a riverbank is a bag that will not float downstream. Caring for the waterways in your own neighborhood helps the whole watershed, all the way to the sea.
Quick check: Why should volunteers do a tick check after a riverbank clean-up?
- Ticks are common in grassy and wooded edges in summer
- Ticks only live in the water
- It is required by law
Show answer
A. Brushy waterway edges are prime tick habitat, so checking yourself, kids and pets afterward is a smart habit.
