Chicago River Cleanup

The Idea

Friends of the Chicago River is determined to get rid of trash. With your help. For forty years Friends has been raising awareness that the Chicago River is a precious natural resource that needs to be protected. Litter and sewage remain an issue and together we can change this. The "Litter Free Chicago River" campaign is an on-the-ground public awareness campaign where we lead cleanups and share our Litter Free Chicago River Toolkit so that anyone can start cleanups on their own with friends, family, community, and workplace. We are here to be a resource to support more people to host their own cleanups and create a multiplier effect. So the next time you see trash in or along the river you'll know you can do something about it!

Litter is not only an eyesore, but it's the most visible sign of pollution. It has serious effects. Litter kills aquatic life, is a public health issue, and is exacerbated when there are combined sewer overflows that discharge sewage right into the river after a rainfall. Increasing development along the Chicago River could add to the problem. Despite legal requirements to protect the river from floatables and meet combined sewer overflow permit requirements, we're still not doing a good job keeping trash and sewage out of the river system.

Through the Chicago Sustainability Challenge, you can access funding to cover the costs of hosting a cleanup in your neighborhood, learn how to get started today