A tale of two cleanups

April 25, 2024| Community, Environment, People

By: Holly Odgers

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was a blustery season, it was a temperate season...  With apologies to Charles Dickens, we're altering his iconic words to describe two very different but equally impactful cleanups held this month. From braving the elements along the Musconetcong River to a sunny day collecting litter along Mt. Arlington Blvd, this tale of two cleanups attests to the resilience of our volunteers and the difference they're making for our environment!

River Cleanup

On an unseasonably frigid and windy Saturday, April 13, our cleanup crew, comprised of 37 committed volunteers, braved the elements to participate in the Musconetcong Watershed Association's (MWA) river cleanup.

This annual river cleanup draws hundreds of volunteers to remove trash at various locations along the Musconetcong River, from Lake Hopatcong to the Delaware River confluence. It has become a tradition for the Lake Hopatcong Foundation to help coordinate the Hopatcong State Park location.

Together, we removed 20 bags of trash and several larger items from the area below the dam at the state park. Across all locations along the river, an impressive 295 volunteers collected 223 bags of trash and debris, preventing them from polluting our waterways.

We're proud to help coordinate the northernmost cleanup location each year and extend our heartfelt congratulations to the MWA and all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication!

(See more photos HERE.)

Adopt-A-Spot Roadside Cleanup

The weather was much more favorable for our Earth Day weekend cleanup on April 20. Twenty-two volunteers joined us along Mt. Arlington Blvd, where we collected a remarkable haul of 31 bags of litter, 2 tires, and even some unexpected items like a horse, a goofy, an abominable snowman, and a sign that, ironically, read "no dumping."

The Foundation adopted this section of roadway in 2016 as part of Roxbury’s Adopt-A-Spot program, which supports cleanup efforts by providing cleanup supplies and hauling away the gathered trash. After eight years, we continue to appreciate the community's enthusiasm and commitment to helping us with this annual effort.

(See more photos HERE.)

As Charles Dickens concluded, 'It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done.' Inspired by these words, we invite you to join us in future cleanups! If you're interested, make sure to register as a volunteer to receive email updates about upcoming opportunities. We also post them on our website and in our e-newsletter, so keep an eye out for ways to get involved. Let's write a better story together!