Decades of collective effort to improve the Potomac River’s health have brought us in reach of a healthy, thriving ecosystem, but there is more work to do.

Pollution remains a major threat, the most egregious source of which is runoff caused by agriculture, sprawl, and deforestation. Litter also continues to be a serious issue for the river’s health and our communities. It degrades water quality, harms wildlife, and leaches toxins into our waterways.

Trash in our waters is often the result of poor waste management infrastructure and improper disposal. The EPA reports packaging and improperly disposed waste from land account for over 80% of the marine debris recovered in beach cleanups, and the other 20% is abandoned fishing gear and traps from ocean-going vessels. On a local level, Potomac Conservancy reports that the top 5 sources of plastic pollution in our river are straws, styrofoam, water bottles and caps, plastic bags, and food wrappers. So what can we do to make a dent in all this debris?