The annual NeuseRiver Clean-up began 5 years ago when Upper Neuse Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks
joined the NRF team.At the time there were several small river clean-ups sponsored by various community groups in Raleigh.Dean’s idea was to merge these small local clean-ups into one big annual event coordinated by NRF.In doing so, Dean was also able to get the City of Raleigh to provide extra trash pick-ups and the Wake County Commissioners agreed to waive the landfill fees. The first year was a smashing success; 70 volunteers covered 20 miles of the NeuseRiver and hauled out more than 7,000 pounds of trash.
Four years later, the river clean-up had grown to include 50 miles of river from Falls Dam in North Raleigh to Smithfield.In addition, Larry Baldwin, Lower Neuse Riverkeeper organized a clean-up in downtown Kinston.In total, last years clean-up covered 62 miles of the NeuseRiver and netted 21,000 pounds of trash with 300 volunteers!
Annual Neuse River Clean-Up Archives
Wake Forest Gazette: Volunteers clean 21,260 pounds of trash from the Neuse