Trash traps are awesome? Yes indeed!
Improving water quality and neighborhoods across the Anacostia River watershed gets a big boost from... trash traps?! Creating an ever improving Anacostia River watershed means tackling trash!
Everything from plastic bottles and bag to aluminum cans and food containers. Getting trash out takes loads of partners and commitment.
There's problem?
Trash and litter are water pollution. Clean water and healthy communities mean getting the trash out and preventing it in the first place. Cities, counties and states have trash limits on trash improve water quality the Anacostia River and creeks, even to the Chesapeake Bay. The region measures how much trash is in the water and how much is removed!
Why trash traps?
Keeping trash out of water is best! But folks haven't stopped littering so trash traps are one way of cleaning up water. Trash traps harness grab the litter and let folks pull it out and dispose of it. They need to allow water and fish to move but still nab the garbage.
Anything I can do? Yes! Everyone can help in little and big ways.
Use tap water and take refillable water bottles on the go
Say no thanks to plastic straws unless you reeaallly need one.
Recycle what you can
Toss the trash in a can
Be a volunteer for trash clean ups in your neighborhood or at your favorite river or creek
Cities and counties across the DMV have trash plans and programs to help. Check with yours!
Prince George's County
Clean Water Partnership
Zero Waste Initiative
Montgomery County
Solid Waste Service
Watershed Restoration
District of Columbia
ZeroWaste DC
Mayor's Office of the Clean City
Want even info? Go deep!
Maps and Data - Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership
Trash Free Initiative - Alice Ferguson Foundation
Trash Traps Stormwater Systems
Trash Free Maryland
Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, Anacostia Riverkeeper, the Town of Mt. Rainier, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust partnered to install the first major litter trap in Arundel Canal, a tributary of the Anacostia River's Northwest Branch.
The innovative litter trap is designed to capture litter and debris from roadways and transported by rain and wind into storm drains. The unique design requires no mechanical assistance, relying only on the water’s natural current, offering an economical way to capture floating litter before it reaches the Anacostia River, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. The trap is safe for fish, waterfowl and other aquatic life.
“Prince George’s County is responsible for removing 170,628 pounds of litter each year from the Anacostia River Watershed. We are proud to invest in the health of the Anacostia and in innovative solutions that allow us to both improve our communities and meet our regulatory obligations.”