Registration has now closed for the 16th annual Muddy River Cleanup on Saturday, April 20.
Stay connected by signing up for our monthly eNewsletter, or join us for our next volunteer cleanup on Saturday, May 11!
The Muddy River Cleanup is a part of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup; this event takes place throughout the Charles River Watershed and builds on a national effort as part of American Rivers’ National River Cleanup® which, to date, has removed over 25 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways. From 2016 to 2019, the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup was recognized by American Rivers for the Most Pounds of Trash Collected and Most Volunteers Mobilized.
The Charles River Cleanup brings together over 3,000 volunteers each year to pick up litter, remove invasive species and assist with park maintenance along all 80 miles of the Charles River. Residents are drawn to the popular Charles River Cleanup from a desire to give back to their community while enjoying the beauty and wildlife along the river. Volunteers hold onto the connections they establish during this day of stewardship by returning to the Charles to exercise, play and enjoy nature throughout the year.
Thanks for your interest in bringing your group to the 2024 Muddy River Cleanup. At this time, the Cleanup is at capacity and no longer accepting more registrants.
If you would like to schedule a volunteer event for your group on a future date, please contact Alyx at abritton@emeraldnecklace.org. If you would like to support the Cleanup and the Conservancy’s work, you’re welcome to make a donation through our website at www.emeraldnecklace.org/donate (and select Emerald Fund in the Designation).
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will the Muddy River Cleanup take place?
The cleanup will take place from 10:00AM-12:00PM on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at multiple locations in the Emerald Necklace.
What supplies are provided for the cleanup?
Trash bags, gloves, and trash grabbers (depending on site and availability) will be provided. All tools that have to be returned will be sanitized before and after the event. At the completion of the cleanup, volunteers will stack the trash, which will be collected by municipal public works departments or the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Each volunteer team will fill out a form reporting how many pounds of trash they collected and what items they found.
Is there a rain date?
The Muddy River Cleanup will be held rain or shine! However, we will make a judgement call in extreme weather situations and will work with volunteers to reschedule them for another date and time to participate in the cleanup in the event we must cancel.
Where can I get more information about a specific cleanup site event?
Once your registration is confirmed for a specific site and date, you will be sent an email on details of your specific cleanup site, including public transit and vehicular navigation, the best areas to park, where to meet, and general health and safety guidelines.
If you need specific information prior to registration, please email volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org.
How can I sign up as a corporate-sponsored group?
Group registration for the Muddy River Cleanup will open through this form on February 1 and remain open until all sites are at capacity.
The rates for corporate groups are as follows:
- Groups of 1-10 = $2,000
- Groups of 11-20 = $4,000
- Groups of 21-30 = $6,000
- Groups of 31-40 = $8,000
- Groups of 41-50 = $10,000
- Groups of 51-60 = $12,000
- Groups of 61-70 = $14,000
- Groups of 100+ = Please Inquire
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Corporate and institutional partners that sign up between February 1st – February 15th will receive a $500 discount.
For more information on supporting the Conservancy through donations, please refer to https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/donate/.
How can I sign up as a non-profit or school group?
Group registration for the Muddy River Cleanup will open through this form on February 1 and remain open until all sites are at capacity.
While we suggest a donation for non-profits and schools to help support the execution of this event, we want all who wish to participate in the cleanup to be able to and can work with non-profits and schools on a special rate. For more information, please contact volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org and include “Muddy River Cleanup [Non-Profit or School]: [Insert Group Name Here]” in the subject line.
If you have further questions, please contact volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org and include “Muddy River Cleanup Question” in the subject line.
Thank you to our Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup partners:
Our cleanup is part of a larger annual effort in Massachusetts State Parks, Park Serve Day. Park Serve Day gives Massachusetts residents the chance to help clean and prepare state parks and beaches for the summer recreation season.
