Skip to content
Independent and accessible public media is needed more than ever.
Help us continue keeping communities informed and inspired.
Keep public media independent and accessible
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  • Health Care
  •  

Volunteers Collect 70 Tons Of Trash in Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Cleanup Day Events

  •  Ed Joyce 
Saturday, September 19, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Great Sierra River Cleanup / Courtesy

Elle Procopio of Foresthill, California, was one of 2,833 volunteers collecting trash in 22 counties Saturday as part of the Great Sierra River Cleanup event.

Great Sierra River Cleanup / Courtesy

The American River Parkway Foundation and the Great Sierra River Cleanup held their annual cleanup events Saturday. 
 
Thousands of volunteers removed trash and debris from 23 separate locations along the riverbanks and from the river as part of the Great American River Parkway Cleanup. 
 
American River Parkway Foundation Executive Director Dianna Poggetto says 1,490 volunteers on land, and 60 divers-kayakers, removed 16,500 pounds of trash and 800 pounds of recyclables Saturday. 
 
She says the "most interesting items" found on the Parkway included a chaise lounge chair, mattresses, riding chaps, HP scanner, propane tanks, barbecues and car batteries.
 
0919 ARPF Cleanup 1
Some of the trash collected from the American River Parkway Saturday in Sacramento County.  American River Parkway Foundation / Courtesy
 
The Great Sierra River Cleanup event also removed trash Saturday from waterways throughout the Sierra Nevada. Organizers say 2,833 volunteers collected 61.3 tons of trash and recyclables from throughout the 22-county Sierra Nevada region.
 
"Unusual items included a plastic dinosaur, old mining machinery, a flip-flop sandal in a crawdad trap and an unopened DVD on the Holy Grail," says Theresa Burgess, Great Sierra River Cleanup Project Coordinator.
 
The events are part of the annual statewide California Coastal Cleanup Day, which started in 1985.
 
In 2014, nearly 67,000 volunteers removed more than 1,190,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from California's beaches, lakes, and waterways.

The California Coastal Commission says the top-five items collected between 1989 and 2014 were:
 
Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters (37.7 percent) 
Food Wrappers/Containers (10.4 percent)
Caps/Lids (8.7 percent)
Bags (paper and plastic) (7.9 percent)
Cups/Plates/Utensils (5.4 percent)

Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  
Was this story useful?
yes
no

Will you help us improve our fires coverage? Head to our wildfire survey page to tell us what you think.

    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. CapRadio is following how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

    More about wildfire

  • Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

    California Wildfires: Latest Updates

    CapRadio provides the latest information and updates on wildfires hitting the state, and resources for listeners to help prepare, follow and respond to fire.

    Related Stories

  • Al Gibes / Capital Public Radio

    Great American River Clean-Up Expects Record Haul

    Friday, September 18, 2015
    Low water levels in the American River, due to the drought, is expected to increase the volume of trash volunteers collect during the Great American River Clean-Up Saturday in Sacramento County.
  • Brett K. Snow, Pool / AP Photo

    California Drought Predicted To Persist, Intensify Through December

    Thursday, September 17, 2015
    The latest seasonal drought outlook from the National Weather Service shows the drought in California, and much of Nevada, persisting and intensifying through December.
  • Grass Fires Burning On American River Parkway

    Friday, August 28, 2015
    UPDATE: 11:40 p.m. - Crews are working through the night to mop up a series of grassland fires along the American River Parkway - north of the river and south of Costco. There were no injuries and no structures threatened.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    'Training Burns' Could Prevent Larger Fires In Sacramento

    Wednesday, August 12, 2015
    The Sacramento Fire Department says more "training burns" along the American River Parkway provide buffers and can prevent larger fires.
  • California Drought: ‘Spooky’ Water Supply Future

    Friday, July 24, 2015
    The California Department of Water Resources released a video this week and suggested that the state faces a scary future and potential fifth year of drought.
  • Rich Pedroncelli / AP

    Climate Change Meets Drought In California

    Thursday, July 16, 2015
    Drought, combined with the effects of climate change, may likely mean more water restrictions in California.
  • Study: Causes Of Drought Linked To Climate Change

    Monday, September 29, 2014
    The drought currently hitting California is one of the worst in state history. A new study by climate scientists at Stanford links the cause of the drought to climate change.

 droughtclimate changeamerican riverwildfirepollutionDrought2015American River Park Foundationwater qualityCalifornia Coastal CleanupCoastal Cleanup Day

Ed Joyce

Former All Things Considered Anchor & Reporter

Ed Joyce is a former reporter and All Things Considered news anchor at Capital Public Radio. Ed is a veteran journalist with experience in a variety of news positions across all media platforms, including radio, television, web and print.   Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Environment Stories

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Tunnel vision: What’s next for the governor’s plan to replumb the Delta?

June 22, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Composting starts soon in Sacramento County. Here’s what you need to know.

June 29, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

June 28, 2022

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Pfizer says tweaked vaccine offers better protection against omicron

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Sacramento’s homeless population spikes 67% to nearly 9,300 since 2019

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: Court revives block of federal vaccination mandate

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Pfizer says tweaked vaccine offers better protection against omicron

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Sacramento’s homeless population spikes 67% to nearly 9,300 since 2019

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: Court revives block of federal vaccination mandate

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.