Blog

30,000 LBS of Trash Removed

Sean Visintainer - 12/05/19

Spokane Riverkeepers

A cleaner, healthier river for the future

2019 was a big year for Spokane River cleanup efforts reported the Spokane River Forum in their latest newsletter. Over 30,000 lbs of trash were removed from the banks, and in the water, not including what river users pick up randomly throughout the year.

Andy Dunau, Executive Director of the Spokane River Forum, said 2019 was probably the largest amount of trash ever removed from the river by volunteers and organizations.

I think we owe everyone involved a BIG THANK YOU for helping make this trash removal possible from volunteers to sponsors. Very cool! We hope 2020 keeps the momentum going.


Volunteers collected over 30,000 lbs. of trash along the Spokane River in 2019. That's in addition to the good Samaritans who pick things up as they see them all year long. It's a team effort. Each September, partners collaborate on the annual Spokane River Cleanup. This year:

  • Lands Council coordination of 571 volunteers from Green Street to below TJ Meenach netted over 6,000 pounds of trash.
  • Forum coordination of 146 volunteers in Spokane Valley netted over 2,000 lbs. of trash.

2019 also featured:

  • The Forum coordinating with Avista and the City of Spokane to enable 55 of their employees to volunteer for a special cleanup between Gonzaga and the Convention Center that netted over 4,500 lbs. of trash.
  • Spokane Riverkeeper taking out volunteers regularly, netting over 18,000 lbs. of trash year to date.


To the many sponsors who make these efforts possible, our River and Thanksgiving Day are better because of you.

Spokane River Sponsors
Spokane River Sponsors