News

Sound Rivers’ Litter-Free Rivers program is taking off — and taking plenty of trash out of the waterways.

Trash trap No. 6 will make its debut on East Tarboro Canal in Tarboro on Friday, thanks to Sound Rivers’ partnership with Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant.

“Cummins employees are going to play a huge role in monitoring and cleaning out the trash trap, so that’s really exciting to bring them on as part of our Litter-Free Rivers program,” said Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz. “We’ve done several cleanups with Cummins so far, and their taking on the Tarboro trash trap is a natural extension of the work we’ve already been doing together.”

Staff from the Town of Tarboro’s Public Works, Cummins and Sound Rivers will be meeting up at 10 a.m. to install the trap, adding to a growing fleet of trash traps across the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds. In May 2022, Sound Rivers installed the first trap on Jack’s Creek in Washington. Another four have since been added: on Duffyfield Canal in New Bern, Little Rock Creek on the grounds of the Walnut Creek Wetland Center in Raleigh, Adkin Branch in Kinston and Greens Mill Run in Greenville.

The trash trap will be located near the Ray Recreation Center and the Tarboro Splashpad.

Emily said while the Cummins team will be monitoring the Tarboro trap and coordinating cleanouts, there’s room for more help.

“If there’s a group that wants to help out, they’re more than welcome to adopt a trash trap,” she said.

Sound Rivers recently launched the Adopt a Trash Trap program, aimed at providing groups of any kind (civic, clubs, friends, family) volunteer opportunities to help keep their rivers clean.  Groups can adopt a trap for a month, monitor and organize cleanups, send Sound Rivers photos and data, and we’ll give you a shout out on our website and social media.

Find out more about Adopting a Trash Trap HERE!