Riverkeeper Sweep marks 15th year of Hudson River cleanup
June 8, 2026
Katie Leung
Senior Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
katiel@riverkeeper.org
914-478-4501 ext. 256
Erin Sullivan
Key takeaways
- The 15th annual Riverkeeper Sweep mobilized nearly 1,700 volunteers across 100 projects on May 2, 2026, removing 19 tons of debris — including 80 tires, 823 bags of trash, and assorted large items like refrigerators, mattresses, and shopping carts — from the Hudson River shoreline.
- Single-use plastics dominate Hudson River litter, with volunteers estimating nearly half of all collected trash was plastic and identifying PepsiCo, Modelo, and Coca-Cola products as the most frequently found branded items.
- Policy-driven progress is measurable: since New York's 2020 Plastic Bag Ban, volunteers have recorded roughly a 50 percent reduction in single-use plastic bag litter at monitored sites, demonstrating that environmental legislation produces real, trackable results.
During the 15th annual Riverkeeper Sweep on May 2, nearly 1,700 volunteers participated in the Hudson River’s largest annual shoreline cleanup. Despite some wet weather, together we achieved incredible results over the course of a single day:
- 100 projects
- 1,693 volunteers
- 19 tons of debris cleaned up
- 80 tires removed
- 185 native trees, shrubs, and flowers planted and maintained
The grand total includes 823 bags of trash, 1 ton of recycling, and nearly 1 ton of tires. Other large debris removed by volunteers included mattresses, plastic dock floats, plastic and metal barrels, axels with wheels, boat seat cushions, car parts, astroturf, heavy scrap metal, shopping carts, chairs, plastic and metal construction materials, Styrofoam blocks, propane tanks, refrigerators, TVs, tarps, tents, and surfboards.
Take a look at some highlights from along the river:
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This monumental collective effort is made possible by our Sweep Leaders, volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, municipalities, and fellow nonprofit organizations. It’s inspiring to see families, youth groups, religious communities, and many others of all ages team up to achieve visible, lasting results.
Though trash continues to impact our shorelines and waterways, some of our Sweep project leaders report that their sites are getting steadily cleaner year after year. These annual cleanups appear to be progressively reducing the amount of trash in and around the Hudson and its tributaries, and the care and attention of local volunteers is helping spread the message and leading to greater efforts by the wider community to minimize litter.
What’s in Hudson River trash?
Single-use plastics, including bottles and food packaging, make up the bulk of the trash gathered at Sweep projects. Riverkeeper has helped pass legislation to reduce the volume of single-use plastic and micro-debris in the environment, such as the 2015 Federal Microbeads Free Waters Act, the 2019 New York City bill restricting the sale or use of certain polystyrene items, and the 2020 New York State Bag Waste Reduction Law (Plastic Bag Ban of 2020).
This year, volunteers estimated that nearly half of the trash collected was plastic. Of the litter identifiable by brand labels, Sweep participants found the highest number from PepsiCo products, Modelo beverage products, and Coca-Cola beverage products, followed by Primo Brands (Poland Spring), Anheuser-Busch and Mars, Inc.
In 2026, plastic bottles were the most common type of trash found at Sweep sites. Other common items included beverage cans and glass bottles (most notably beer cans and bottles), cigarette butts, Styrofoam pieces, and microplastics, bottle caps (plastic and metal), and food wrappers.
Among this year’s surprises were half a pair of golden handcuffs, a bowling ball, a bowling pin, a lobster pot maker, a reusable water bottle, a Boogie Board, a pair of working headphones, a drone, a railroad spike, duck decoys, a headless vintage doll, a machete, a dishwasher, an electric skillet, an engagement ring box, stair treads, an aquarium filtration system, rodenticide, an authentic ranger hat, and a Sonic the Hedgehog figurine. The kayak team with Hudson River Expeditions in Cold Spring also found half a mannequin which became the mascot for their cleanup. Even though trash cleanups are hard work, there’s always fun to be had.
Fishing waste along in the river
The team at Buono Beach on Staten Island unfortunately found a bag containing two menhaden fish, a troubling reminder of the importance of properly disposing of bait, catch remains, and fishing waste. Menhaden play a vital role in the Hudson River ecosystem as a key food source for striped bass, bluefish, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, and ospreys.
In the 60 years since Riverkeeper’s founding, the Hudson River’s water has become cleaner and safer for recreational fishing. Although we are proud that the river is so well used, the large amount of fishing and boating waste gathered during Sweep reflects the continued need for care, stewardship, and respect for the river ecosystem. Several sites collected fishing lines, filaments, hooks, and nets left behind at popular fishing spots. When discarded improperly, these materials can become hazards for fish, birds, turtles, and other wildlife. Animals can become trapped, injured, or unable to feed and swim properly, often with fatal consequences. Waste left along shorelines can also pollute the water, damage habitats, and diminish the natural beauty of these shared public spaces.
Properly disposing of fishing gear, bait containers, and other recreational waste – just like any other waste – is a simple but important way anglers can help preserve the health of the river and protect the wildlife that depends on it.
What we’ve achieved in 15 years
Sweep projects can vary considerably. In some, volunteers gather debris by land or by water, often using kayaks and small watercraft. In others, volunteers participate in ecological restoration by planting trees, removing invasive species, or restoring street ends where urban waterways meet the pavement.
Over the course of 15 years, Riverkeeper Sweep has organized 1,563 projects and over 28,262 volunteers who have collectively removed 415 tons of debris, including 39 tons of recycling and 2,630 tires. Volunteers have planted or maintained over 11,425 native trees, shrubs, and flowers, and removed thousands of pounds of invasive species.
Sweep as ecological restoration
Nine of this year’s projects included ecological restoration: maintenance and planting of trees, shrubs, and plants, as well as removal of invasive species. Volunteers planted and maintained 185 native species, including bayberry, black willow, blueberry, chokecherry, elderberry, milkweed, ninebark, sugar maple, sycamore, wild apple, winterberry, and witch hazel.
Volunteers also removed more than 2,200 pounds of invasive plant species, including bittersweet, garlic mustard, honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, mugwort, multiflora rose, narrow-leaf bittercress, Norway maple, Pachysandra, tree of heaven, and water chestnut.
As more trash is removed from the shoreline and other natural spaces, there is more light and space for native plant life to flourish. Not only does this contribute to a healthier ecosystem, but it also helps protect surrounding properties from flooding during heavy rainstorms.
Comprehensive Data Collection Initiative
Sweep’s Comprehensive Data Collection Initiative (CDCI), which identifies and records every single piece of trash collected at a site, was in full swing this year, with 24 of the Sweep sites participating.
Detailed data gathered with CDCI offers insights into how much and what kind of waste enters the Hudson. Here are the top 10 items found at these sites:
Microplastic madness
This year plastic and foam pieces topped the chart at CDCI sites, with over 4,900 pieces under 2.5 cm in diameter collected. Because microplastics are so small, they are nearly impossible to remove once they enter waterways. These particles can persist in the environment for decades and have been found in fish, birds, and other wildlife throughout the Hudson River watershed. Microtrash is then followed by cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles and caps, plastic bags, non-grocery plastic bags, metal beverage cans, straws/stirrers, and glass bottles.
CDCI volunteers collected more than 4,500 cigarette butts this year. Though cigarette butt litter is the most “accepted” form of litter worldwide, it has become a major source of environmental pollution. The nicotine filters of cigarette butts are made of a type of plastic that is not biodegradable and releases toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics when it breaks down. Preventing cigarette butt litter is one of the simplest ways individuals can reduce plastic pollution. Proper disposal and increased public awareness can help keep these toxic plastics out of our waterways.
Making big progress on plastic bags
Great news! Plastic bags have not appeared in our top 10 most commonly found litter items since 2024. Since the passage of the Plastic Bag Ban of 2020, CDCI volunteers have reported a significant reduction in single-use plastic bag litter at their sites — a roughly 50 percent decrease from 2024. Sweep leaders have observed the same trend while collecting general data. This encouraging progress shows that policy works. At the same time, there is still more work to do to ensure that no plastic bags — or any litter — end up in the Hudson River and along its shorelines. Riverkeeper will continue organizing Sweep and supporting communities as they work together to protect and restore the river they rely on and cherish.
Continued partnership
This year, Riverkeeper continued an exciting partnership with Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) to combine both Sweep and their first Saturday in May event I Love My Park Day. Over 400 volunteers came together at 13 joint project locations along the Hudson River. Together, these volunteers removed over 4,000 pounds of trash and nearly 1,400 pounds of invasive plants. We are grateful for the collaboration with PTNY and the project leaders, and we look forward to partnering again next year.
Sponsors
Riverkeeper Sweep succeeds because of support from our sponsors. We are truly grateful for their financial contributions as well as the time and volunteer hours these companies spent cleaning up the Hudson with Riverkeeper. Thank you!
Site Sponsors and Supporters: Adirondack Capital Partners, Century 21 New West Properties, Century Aggregates/Bonded Concrete, Old Souls, Ultrafabrics, and WSP
