Volunteers & River Enthusiasts Invited to Participate in Ohio River Cleanup Event
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission hosts Ohio EPA and local advocates for end of season cleanup event
Cincinnati, Oh – The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) is calling on all environmental stewards and river enthusiasts to join them for their end of season Ohio River Sweep cleanup event scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2022, from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m at Schmidt Boat Ramp and Ballfields located at 2944 Humbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226. Volunteers from partner agencies such as Ohio EPA, the Mill Creek Alliance, and Toyota Boshoku Corporation are joining forces to help ORSANCO close out their program season this year. Families, communities, and organizations are welcome to participate!
ORSANCO believes there’s something to be said about the grit of a hard day’s work picking up trash along the river that creates a strong sense of accomplishment knowing you contribute to making the world a better place and they believe participating in their Ohio River Sweep cleanup event is one way you can do it. ORSANCO Executive Director, Richard Harrison, explains, "Solving the litter crisis is an overwhelming and daunting task, but there is something each of us can do that would make a widespread impact.” Harrison encourages people to imagine spending time outside with family, friends, and people in your community connecting with nature, building relationships, and together serving a common goal to protect one of our region’s most valuable resources – the Ohio River. Harrison states, “It’s important for everyone in the Ohio River basin to remember we are all a part of this watershed, and by working together, these types of cleanup events have a major impact on the global issue of litter pollution.”
If you’re unable to attend the season closing event this Friday, the Ohio River Sweep program is an annual volunteer river cleanup program hosted by ORSANCO and the Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE) that runs from March to October. Volunteers from six states, extending the entire length of the Ohio River, remove litter at multiple locations along the river and many of its tributaries. Throughout the season, volunteer participants choose the date and location of their cleanup event and the Ohio River Sweep provides support and supplies to hold the event. Cleanup events typically last 3-4 hours, and each location receives free trash bags, gloves, and event t-shirts for all volunteers. Anyone over 18 is welcome to organize an event, and all interested student groups are welcome to participate with adult supervision. Each group can pick their own location, or the ORSANCO team can help find a spot with the support of local coordinators within the Ohio River Sweep network. Harrison states, “Our volunteers make a tremendous impact, and we are proud of their service and dedication to keeping our river clean.” This year, approximately 1,600 volunteers have participated at one or more of over 120 locations throughout the Ohio River basin - and there are still supplies available for cleanup events from now through the end of October.
Plastic bottles and tires are the most common items found during the cleanup events. More unusual items that have been found over the years include a class ring (Metropolis, IL) that was later turned over to its owner; a wedding dress (Jefferson County, OH); a phone booth (Pittsburgh, PA); an un-cashed check for $55,000 (Oldham County, KY); and various appliances and furniture. In all, more than 100,000 tons of trash and debris have been collected since the first Ohio River Sweep event in 1989, and the volunteers since that time have made tremendous progress cleaning the Ohio River. However, litter continues to be a global problem. ORSANCO Technical Programs Manager, Ryan Argo, explains that any foreign object can have a negative impact on our waterways by altering habitats, leaching toxins, or entangling wildlife. “Of increasing concern in worldwide waterways are microplastics, which are small particles of plastic material that can be ingested by wildlife causing deleterious effects,” said Argo. Microplastic particles can be found in industrial and household products or created as larger plastic waste breaks down. "By removing larger plastic waste before it has a chance to degrade, volunteers assist in limiting the amount of microplastics affecting the Ohio River and the abundant diversity of wildlife it supports," Argo continued. By removing this waste, volunteers help ensure the continued health of the Ohio River and the vast array of life it supports. The Ohio River Sweep goal is to support as many cleanup events as possible along the Ohio River main stem and its tributaries in order to remove the greatest amount of litter possible.
Since 1989, the Ohio River Sweep award-winning cleanup event has been organized by ORSANCO, the Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE), and environmental protection agencies from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. FORE teaches people of all ages in the Ohio River Basin how to become environmental stewards through hands-on programs that get people on the water and engaged in preserving the cultural, ecological, and economic value of our rivers. Poorly managed trash is a continual problem that the Ohio River Sweep volunteers positively impact each year. More than 25 million people, 8% of the U.S. population, live in the Ohio River basin and The Ohio River is a source of drinking water for more than five million people.
Harrison explains, “The Ohio River Sweep program is fueled by the generosity of its volunteers, sponsors, and partner agencies; they are the heartbeat of the program, and without them, the multitude of cleanup efforts throughout the entire Ohio River watershed would not exist. All it takes is changing our behavior and getting involved; together we can make a difference.”
