On March 30, 2019, the River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash® (Trash Bash®) will celebrate its 26th consecutive cleanup of the Galveston Bay watershed. Trash Bash® is proud of its heritage as the largest, single-day, waterway cleanup in Texas. In 2018, about 3,600 volunteers collected 85.5 tons of trash, one ton for recycling, and 356 tires, while cleaning 158.5 miles of shoreline.

Over 25 years the numbers are impressive. More than 109,000 volunteers have collected 2,274 tons of trash, 17.3 tons for recycling, and 11,065 tires. Trash Bash® makes a big impact on Texas waterways, especially given its location at the end of the trash stream, the Galveston Bay watershed.

“Completing 25 consecutive cleanups was a strong testament to the will of the region’s residents to keep our waterways clean and beautiful. Trash Bash® was honored in 2018 for this strong legacy with a Texas Environmental Excellence Award and a Gulf Guardian Award through the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program Partnership,” said Lori Traweek, president of the nonprofit Texas Conservation Fund, which manages Trash Bash® with administrative support by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Gulf Coast Authority, and a volunteer steering committee.

The cleanup’s mission is to promote environmental stewardship of the watershed through public education utilizing hands-on educational tools and developing partnerships between environmental, governmental, and private organizations. “It’s a great opportunity for residents, students, and businesses to get hands-on experience about the effects of littering and learn about simple ways to reduce water pollution at home through interactive educational exhibits,” said Traweek. Volunteers are provided with cleanup supplies, receive an official Trash Bash® t-shirt, lunch after the cleanup, and can win great door prizes. A commemorative patch is available for Scouts and collectors.

“The financial catalyst for Trash Bash’s continued success is our committed sponsors,” said Traweek. “They believe in what we are trying to accomplish with our message that prevention is key to controlling litter and we are all responsible to do our part.” Multiple sponsorship levels for gift-in-kind and monetary donations are available for corporations, organizations, and private citizens. Donations can be completed easily online. All contributions are tax-deductible and help further the cause of protecting the watershed.

For more information, visit TrashBash.org, call 281-486-9500, or email WaterResources@h-gac.com.