3,000 VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE 10th ANNUAL
EARTH DAY CHARLES RIVER CLEANUP

Boston – On Saturday April 25th, 2009, more than 3,000 volunteers and community leaders joined forces to clean the banks of 80-mile Charles River at the 10th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England Acting Regional Administrator Ira Leighton and Cambridge Mayor Denise E. Simmons kicked off the state’s largest Earth Day event at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade with local school children, college students, church groups, and scout groups joining them to pick up trash, debris, and other objects from the banks of the river in an effort to improve the river’s health and make it more beautiful. An estimated 20 tons of trash was removed from sites throughout the watershed.

“Boston can be proud of its river,” stated Ira Leighton of EPA New England. “Few American cities can boast of having a river clean enough to support safe boating and recreation. The transformation of the Charles is due to the volunteers who gave their time and effort to assist in water quality monitoring or help clean up the river banks. It was nothing short of inspiring to see the great work by the CRWA coming to fruition on such a beautiful day, with thousands of volunteers anxiously waiting to roll up their sleeves this past Saturday.”

Underscoring the importance of the river in years past and protecting it today, State Senator Steven A. Tolman again helped with this year’s event. “Without the commitment and continued participation of everyone who attended the annual river cleanup this past weekend, the Charles would still be polluted and our parklands would go unused,” said Tolman.  “While we have made tremendous progress over the past decade, our commitment to the cleanup must continue to ensure that the river remains safe and clean for years to come.”

One of the largest single-day river cleanups in the country, the event was organized by Charles River Watershed Association, The Esplanade Association, Charles River Conservancy, State Senator Steven Tolman’s Office, the City of Newton, The Trustees of Reservations, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

After the cleanup, volunteers gathered at Artesani Playground Park in Allston-Brighton, where free food and beverage were provided for the participants. The picnic finished off a productive and rewarding day beautifying one of Boston’s and Eastern Massachusetts’ premier attractions. All volunteers received a T-shirt designed by Massachusetts College of Art student Kerry Donahue.

Material and financial contributions for the Charles River Cleanup were provided by: New Balance Foundation, The Cadmus Group, Inc., Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Mix 98.5, Clif Bar, Boston University, Pfizer Inc., MIT Environmental, Health & Safety Programs, Bernardi's Acura, Clean Harbors Environmental Services, The Durkin Company, GerrityStone, Aquafina Water Beverages, Equity Residential, Brandeis University, WERS, Shaw's Supermarket, Stop & Shop Supermarket, WEEI, Roche. Bros Supermarket, Museum of Science, Dunkin' Donuts, Finagle a Bagel, Boston Sand and Gravel, Weston Solutions, Inc., Marriott Hotel Newton, AMEC,  Community Rowing, Inc.,
Doubletree Guest Suites, Whole Foods Market, Nova Biomedical, Starbucks, Russo's, Triumvirate Environmental, Charles River Yacht Club, Dedham Medical Center, International Power Bellingham, Cambridge Health Alliance, Draper Laboratory, dontheglove.com, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Swartz True Value Hardware, Economy Hardware – Cambridge, LT Technologies, Essex Restoration, Coca Cola, Charles River Apparel, Planters Big Nut Bar, John Harvard's Brew House, John Brewer's Tavern, Charles River Bank, and Patagonia Boston.