Trash Cleanups
Cleanup Events for All Ages
We dream of a day when there is no litter polluting our streams and streets. Until then, ACWA continues to raise awareness of the impacts of trash on our local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Cleanups are scheduled throughout the year for volunteers to help out. We partner with small groups, large organizations, and individual families interested in hosting trash picking events. Minors may join us on select events, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
ACWA provides supplies such as safety vests, gloves, and trash bags. Locations vary and are identified by members of the community. If you would like to nominate a site for a cleanup, please contact us. Visit our event page to learn of upcoming cleanups.
Stream Cleanups
On occasion, ACWA will host on the water cleanup events to remove recent and historic litter embedded in the streambeds. Due the COVID pandemic, all on-water events have been cancelled for the safety of our volunteers and leaders. Please check back on our Events page for when these events restart.
Streambank cleanups for walkers will continue with appropriate social distancing and mask wearing. Trash collected is tallied and sent to the landfill. In some cases, sponsors are needed to help defer the cost of disposal of items, such as tires, which have additional fees at the landfill. Contact us to donate or sponsor an event.
“Trees Not Trash”
ACWA has partnered with local municipalities, like the City of Hagerstown to engage the community in combination tree planting and trash cleanup events in urban communities. Such events are designed to beautify city neighborhoods while protecting the creeks from impacted stormwater runoff from urban locations.
“Trees Not Trash” events generally occur in the spring and fall, which are the best times to plant trees. Have a street or streambank that needs trees? Contact us to learn how.