For the 15th year in a row, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) is once again hosting its annual “Sweep the Hooch” volunteer cleanup on Saturday, March 22.
Taking place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the initiative brings local volunteers together at over 60 different locations throughout the Chattahoochee River watershed (including the Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy, Blue Heron Nature Preserve and Riverwalk Atlanta, among others) to remove litter and debris.
According to CRK, litter pollution poses a significant threat to the Chattahoochee River, with potential impacts including harm to wildlife, ruined outdoor spaces for communities, as well as broken down microplastics that endanger aquatic ecosystems and water supplies.
In response to this issue, CRK launched its Sweep the Hooch program back in 2011. During that inaugural year, 360 volunteers gathered to help remove 7,100 pounds of trash in a single day, the organization said.
Since then, the initiative has grown exponentially, with over 1,200 volunteers removing 65,000 pounds (32.5 tons) of waste last year alone.
“Sweep the Hooch began as an ambitious project to clean up the Chattahoochee,” said Tammy Bates, director of CRK Outings. “It has steadily grown into an event that people look forward to year after year. The impact is undeniable: since 2010, we’ve seen our volunteer base more than triple and the amount of trash removed increase nearly tenfold. It’s a testament to how communities truly care about the Chattahoochee River and all the people and wildlife who depend on it.”
Interested participants can sign up at sweepthehooch.org. Registration is free but required.
CRK will provide supplies for the event. As a token of appreciation, CRK said that it will give all participating volunteers a complimentary one-year CRK membership (normally $35, includes perks such as member-exclusive social events, a free decal and more).
