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Litter-Free Rivers will expand, yet again, with trash trap No. 10 in Washington.

On Dec. 4, Sound Rivers will be installing the passive litter-collection device on a small tributary of Jack’s Creek in Washington.

‘I’m really excited about it,” said Sound Rivers Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz. “Our first trash trap in Washington has already been a really big success, so I think this location will be another great way to collect all the trash before it makes its way into the river.”

Emily said anyone who wants to volunteer to help with the installation or simply stop by to see it being done is more than welcome.

“We’ll have extra waders and gloves for you,” she said.

The second Washington trash trap will be the tenth Sound Rivers has installed on tributaries of the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rivers, part of its Litter-Free Rivers program. The Litter-Free Rivers program launched with the Jack’s Creek, Washington, installation in May of 2022, and eight more trash traps have since been installed on urban waterways: on Duffyfield Canal in New Bern, Little Rock Creek in Raleigh, Adkin Branch in Kinston, Greens Mill Run in Greenville, East Tarboro Canal in Tarboro, and three more were recently added on Marsh Creek in Raleigh — a partnership between the City of Raleigh, The Great Raleigh Cleanup and N.C. State University.

Emily said she’d love to hear from community members interested in keeping Jack’s Creek and the Pamlico River clean.

“Where we really need volunteers is when the new trash trap starts filling up with trash, so we’ll be updating our online schedule to show when the cleanouts are happening,” she said.

The newest Washington trash trap will be located right behind Washington’s dog park on East Fourth Street, and is funded by the Smith Family Foundation.

If you or your group would be interested in volunteering to clean out a trash trap or adopting a trash trap for a month, check out the following:

More information about the Adopt A Trash Trap program.

Find out when and where the next trash trap cleanouts are scheduled — we’d love to have your help!

Like Sound Rivers’ ever-expanding Litter-Free Rivers program? We definitely do! Donate to support keeping your waterways litter-free!