River Cleanup Program

Every year from March through November, from New York State down to Newark Bay, Hackensack Riverkeeper’s River Cleanup Program mobilizes over 1,000 volunteers and removes over 27,000 lbs. of trash from our watershed. Want to help us achieve a cleaner, healthier Hackensack River? Roll up your sleeves and join us!

Individuals and small groups are invited to join us at our monthly Community River Cleanups, which take place on weekends in different communities along our watershed. We are always looking for more volunteers and more spots in need of a cleanup!

Does your company, school group, Scout troop, or club want to sponsor/partner on a river cleanup? Give us a call at 201-968-0808 or email outreach@hackensackriverkeeper.org. We will coordinate a date, time, and location with you and bring all the materials, in exchange for a donation to help us sustain this important program.

Otherwise all you need to do to become a Hackensack Riverkeeper volunteer is come to one of our Community Cleanups. Start by registering for one (or more!) of the cleanups listed below. By registering, you help give us an idea of how many volunteers to expect, and we’ll know how to contact you in the event our cleanup is postponed or canceled. As more details are finalized for each cleanup, they will become clickable links to register.

Come dressed for the outdoors in clothes you can get dirty. We’ll bring everything else: gloves, bags, pickup sticks, canoes, paddles, PFDs, and pizza! All ages are welcome, but all children must be supervised. For safety reasons, only adults and/or minors whose parents can vouch for their canoeing experience may use our boats. Thanks for volunteering, and we’ll see you by the river!

2023 Community River Cleanups: 

*Registration links will be available 3 weeks prior to each event*

Saturday, April 15, 9 am – Noon – Lake DeForest Reservoir, Clarkstown, NY 

Sunday, April 30th 10 am – 1 pm  – Michele’s B-Day Cleanup, Ridgewood, NJ – EXACT LOCATION TBD 

Saturday, May 20, 9 am – 12 pmKenneth B. George Memorial Park, River Edge, NJ Canoes 

Saturday, June 24, 9 am – 1 pmSolstice Cleanup-Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus, NJ Canoes  

Sunday, July 23, 10 am – 1 pm Staib Park, Hackensack, NJ 

Saturday, August 19, 10 am – 1 pm – Rutkowski Park, Bayonne, NJ Canoes

Saturday, September 16, 10 am – 1 pm – International Coastal Cleanup, Oradell Reservoir 

Saturday, September 30, 9 am – 2 pm – River Sweep – Oradell to River Edge, NJ Canoes 

Saturday, Oct 28, 10 am – 1 pm – Lincoln Park West, Jersey City, NJ

Sunday, Nov 5, 10 am – 1 pm – Mitzvah Day Cleanup – 243 Frisch Ct, Paramus, NJ

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