News

Earth Day cleanup yields lots of volunteers — and lots of trash

Environmental, Sound Rivers

Posted on April 28th, 2022

Sound Rivers’ Field Technician Will Shingleton steers the kayak down the Tar River, pre-trash pickup, during the Earth Day cleanup.

Celebrating Earth Day this year, Sound Rivers’ Field Technician Will Shingleton joined Pirates on the Water and the East Carolina University ECO-Pirates for an April 23 cleanup on the Tar River. Approximately 50 volunteers gathered at Town Commons in Greenville to take to the Tar in kayaks and canoes, collecting about 15 large bags of trash on their way to the take-out point at Port Terminal (where Sound Rivers recently installed a kayak launch). Will said highlights of the trash-finding expedition were a lawn chair, a charcoal grill and fishing rigs stuck in tree branches—all collected from the river or its banks.

Kayaks and canoes were provided by ECU Adventure Center, Knee Deep Adventures, and Riverside Recreation.

Related News

Welcoming the new year with a recap of 2025! December 23rd 2025
NCDEQ issues Blounts Creek permit, again December 18th 2025
Kinston Clean Creeks wraps up with Adkin Branch adventure December 18th 2025
Water Watchers meetup a Zoom success December 18th 2025
Greenville trash trap sheds 17 pounds December 18th 2025
Specialist wraps up project tracking pollution on urban waterway December 10th 2025