Annual Rahway River Cleanup

Open to All Volunteers--Boy Scout Troop 330 and Cub Scout Pack 30 will again this year be leading a clean-up of the Rahway River on Saturday, April 30th (with a rain date of Sunday, May 1st). We intend to focus on the section of the North Branch of the Rahway River upstream and downstream of the dam at Winfield Park, New Jersey. It is our hope to have enough folks participate
that we can have teams work as far upstream as the Garden State Parkway and downstream through Rahway River Park in Clark, Linden and Rahway. Plans are to meet at the parking area adjacent to the waterfall of the Rahway River by the dam at Winfield Park at 8:45. The clean-up will generally be between 9-12, but any amount of time or effort that folks can volunteer is appreciated. There is always a large volume of debris and garbage to pick up, particularly downstream of the dam in the area where the floodplain widens out. This includes tires and other large debris, and of course floatables
(cans, bottles, plastics, etc). The County of Union generously supplies gloves and garbage bags, and we solicit material donations (donuts, bagels, coffee, bottled water, paper towels, hand-wipes, etc) for all volunteers.

Last year, over 250 folks participated, including girl scouts, cub scouts, boy scouts, fishermen, local activists and citizens, and we pulled some amazing things from the river. Sponsors came through with coffee, bagels, donuts, cookies, bottled water, and juice boxes. We also had water bottles, coloring books, posters and tree seedlings as giveaways for the participants, and all scouts will receive a commemorative merit patch for participating.

This is a great way to celebrate Earth Day and if you haven't participated in an event like this before, you would find it invigorating, and you will feel good about what you have accomplished...it is also a lot of fun...especially for scouts and young adults as they always find something interesting. This
adds both education and adventure to the event. I also suspect that anyone who participates in this kind of event, even just once, and sees the terrible effects that floatable debris has on waterways and parkland, will be sensitive in the way they chuck their trash for the rest of their lives.

All participants should wear jeans, long-sleeved shirts, gloves and boots, and waders are welcome for folks who like to get a little wet.  It is also recommended that each participant bring a standard 5-gallon carry bucket with a handle (put your name on the bottom)...this makes for easy carrying of "stuff" for transfer to the large garbage bags. As was done in past years we also hope to put together a "tiger" team of strong adults willing to get down and dirty who can tackle some of the really big stuff that has been in the river for years...like tires and shopping carts. When we complete the event we do a basic inventory of the "big stuff" that we removed....and within approximately 24 hours Union County Parks removes and disposes of all the trash. 

There is no RSVP required but if you need more information or think you will attend please e-mail at rivercleanup@comcast.net