Get Down, Dirty! Volunteers Help Clean Up for 5th Annual Trash Bash

Several organizations and residents will be turning up throughout the St. Louis County area to participate in the 5th annual Confluence Trash Bash, March 23.

The Confluence Bash, which indicates the Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois rivers coming together, helps clean up the area’s rivers and creeks and brings attention to the issues of storm water run off and dumping in these area waterways, planning coordinator Dona Anderson said.

This year, the clean-up event boasts four sites, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis, St. Ferdinand Park in Florissant, Creve Coeur Park in Maryland Heights and Choteau Township in Granite City, IL. Florissant was added as the fourth location for this year’s event.

“We’re growing more and more, that’s why we’re so spread out,” Anderson said.

The Trash Bash has several sponsors, including Trailnet, Great Rivers Greenway, Missouri American Water and the cities of Florissant, Hazelwood and Maryland Heights.

Anderson said that throughout the past four years, the event has recycled more than 1,900 tires and collected 14 tons of scrap metal and 65 tons of trash.

The event provides a fun day for residents, groups and companies who turn out to help clean up the community, Anderson said. She said the goal is to have 1,200 volunteers this year.

There are even prizes for the weirdest, most expensive and largest items found. Last year, Anderson said that a prosthetic leg, engagement ring and a stove pulled from a river won the top prizes.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. with check-in and the actual clean-up starts at 9 a.m. A barbecue lunch will be held at 11:30 a.m. for all volunteers

Registration is still open for the event. To register, visit the Trash Bash website or call 314-436-8708.