Three River Clean-up on 10/3

Despite being delayed by a week by the big nor'easter, our three-river trash pickup was a great success. The fact that we had more volunteers than last time wasn't the only good thing to happen yesterday. We picked up significantly more trash than last time, and we got to witness the beautiful southern Maine fall foliage.

One of our volunteers spots litter at Pleasant River

Although the trees were great scenery, the sheer amount of trash in the rivers was not. All three waterways (Pleasant River, Ditch Brook, and Dingley Brook) support freshwater fisheries and all three eventually flow into the ocean. This means that the chemicals from litter and the litter itself are harming the freshwater and eventually the saltwater ecosystems. Microplastics are also a huge problem for Maine waterways. Microplastics from old litter are ingested by fish, scattered along the riverbed, or present in our own bodies.

A new volunteer picking up trash on the banks of Ditch Brook

Although it might seem like our actions don't mean much in comparison to the vastness of the planet, they do. Participating in clean-ups like this or even simply using less plastic in everyday life makes a huge difference. Clean Waters For ME is dedicated to making the planet better for the next generation. Together, let's protect our rivers, lakes, oceans, and our wonderful planet that we call home.