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The Tireless Project -Riverfront Cleanup
Our riverfront cleanup program, The Tireless Project, is aimed at getting people engaged with their rivers and streams through cleaning up debris that accumulates along the riverbanks. Working with volunteers, our team works to create trash-free waterways using our 28-foot pontoon boat, Rachel Carson. Our waterways are predominately inundated with plastics; we recover items such as single use plastic bottles, food wrappers, polystyrene pieces, and barrels. We also remove tires, metals, and even the occasional mattress. Our rivers and streams have undergone significant changes in the 18 years that our riverfront cleanup program has been working. The early years of our program were spent removing large debris from the riverbanks, but we are seeing that our waterways are facing a new problem. The influx of single use plastics in our waterways is connected to on land litter entering our storm drains and then being dumped into the river during CSO events. (Link to an article.) Our rivers and streams are incredible resources in our region. Our goal is to get community members actively engaged with the waterways in their own backyard. Through trash removal on the riverbanks, we empower people to learn more about their community and region through the debris that ends up there. What does a riverfront cleanup look like?
All of our riverfront cleanup participants are provided with an in-depth safety talk and all necessary safety gear including gloves and life jackets. Volunteers then board the Rachel Carson, and are taken to various spots on the riverbanks to remove trash. (should we talk about how our events do not involve wading?) how much detail are we looking for? What do I need to participate?
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Riverfront Cleanups
Running from April through October, our riverfront cleanups can range from light work to strenuous work and is often family friendly. Cleanup support is also needed to help with registration, hospitality, etc. Most cleanups last less than 3 hours and refreshments are often provided.
River of Focus
Each year we select a river of focus. We cycle between the Ohio, Monongahela, and the Allegheny Rivers. Our river of focus for 2021 is the Ohio River! This means that we will be cleaning the entire Allegheny County portion of it during our annual cleanup series on our river of focus. Our crew spends two weeks living on the river of focus conducting daily cleanups with volunteers from the communities.
Running from April through October, our riverfront cleanups can range from light work to strenuous work and is often family friendly. Cleanup support is also needed to help with registration, hospitality, etc. Most cleanups last less than 3 hours and refreshments are often provided.
River of Focus
Each year we select a river of focus. We cycle between the Ohio, Monongahela, and the Allegheny Rivers. Our river of focus for 2021 is the Ohio River! This means that we will be cleaning the entire Allegheny County portion of it during our annual cleanup series on our river of focus. Our crew spends two weeks living on the river of focus conducting daily cleanups with volunteers from the communities.
Partner Cleanups
Because the rivers are a key feature of Allegheny County, partner organizations often join the cleanups and do other work such as invasive species removal, tree/flower planting, shoreline litter pickup, etc. These family-friendly cleanups are great opportunities to connect with and learn about the health of the region’s waterways.
Because the rivers are a key feature of Allegheny County, partner organizations often join the cleanups and do other work such as invasive species removal, tree/flower planting, shoreline litter pickup, etc. These family-friendly cleanups are great opportunities to connect with and learn about the health of the region’s waterways.
Meet Our Fleet
