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Sound Rivers is amping up the Litter-Free movement with its new “Adopt A Trash Trap” program.

Adopting a trash trap gives groups the chance to sign up for a month of monitoring the amount of trash collected by a trash trap, organizing clean-outs and participate in keeping local waterways clean.

“It’s a great opportunity to get involved with the litter issues in your waterways and for a group to do something productive and helpful for the community,” said Sound Rivers Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz. “Plus, it’s fun!”

Groups aren’t defined in any way: it could be a student group, a civic group or even a group of friends, Emily said.

“They’ll be able to schedule their own cleanups for what works best with their schedules,” she added.

Already, Emily has two groups who’ve committed to adopting the Greens Mill Run trash trap in Greenville this fall: East Carolina University’s Student Government Association this month and ECU’s Honor College Student Council in November. Both “adoptions” were made possible with the help of Tierney Reardon, who worked as a water-quality intern in the Washington office this summer.

“We’re looking for any groups who are interested in getting in the water: clubs, student groups, a group of friends, civic organizations,” Emily said.

Sound Rivers will supply waders, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags and a scale for weighing the trash. The group will be responsible for monitoring the trap, cleaning it out at least once (or more if there’s a big storm), weighing the trash, then disposing of it, taking pictures and sending Emily photos and data. In return, Sound Rivers will promote the group on social media and provide up to five Sound Rivers shirts to the group.

“When you adopt a trash trap, you get to clean out the traps will all your favorite people, and you get a real sense of accomplishment in helping your waterways,” Emily said. “And, it’s fun!”

Part of Sound Rivers’ Litter-Free Rivers program, trash traps are passive litter-collection devices that corral trash drifting downstream, which can then be removed and disposed of properly Trash traps are located on Jack’s Creek in Washington, Duffyfield Canal in New Bern, Little Rock Creek in Raleigh, Adkin Branch in Kinston and Greens Mill Run in Greenville. Sound Rivers is partnering with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina State University and The Great Raleigh Cleanup for two trash traps on Marsh Creek in Raleigh and the City of Tarboro recently approved installation of a trash trap on East Tarboro Creek.

Would your group be interested in adopting a trash trap? We’d love your help! Email Emily at emily@soundrivers.org to Adopt A Trash Trap today!