This spring, two cleanup initiatives in Pennsylvania and Delaware were a big success, thanks to the help of amazing volunteers.

On March 26, the Schuylkill Action Network hosted its annual Scrub & Pub litter cleanup in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania. This signature event brings together residents, businesses, and local government around a shared goal: keeping litter out of the waterways, including the Schuylkill River, which supplies drinking water to millions. More than 35 volunteers, including partners from Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, collected an impressive 2.5 tons of trash. Afterward, volunteers toasted a job well done with a free beer and appetizers at Puddler’s Kitchen, courtesy of Conshohocken Brewing Co., plus an ice cream
discount from Frosty Falls. Other partners included the Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, Philadelphia Water Department and PennDOT, which supplied cleanup materials.

“The Scrub and Pub is more than just a cleanup,” said Upper Merion Township Manager Tony Hamaday. “It’s a perfect blend of community spirit and environmental stewardship, and a special opportunity for residents, nonprofits, and businesses to come together and make a tangible difference in the health of the Schuylkill River watershed.”

Two weeks later, nearly 500 volunteers gathered across northern New Castle County, Delaware for the 34th annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup — one of the region’s
longest-running environmental efforts. Since 1992, the cleanup has removed more than 360 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and other debris from the Brandywine, White and Red Clay creeks, and the Christina River. This year, volunteers from all sites, streching from Wilmington to Newark, collected roughly 8.5 tons
of trash and debris, including old pipes and tires. That total included efforts from PDE’s 19 volunteers at Vandever Avenue in Wilmington who collected 640 pounds of
trash. To put that in perspective: that’s about the weight of a grizzly bear.