MDC helps sponsor annual Confluence Trash Bash on March 21

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is helping to sponsor one of the largest litter clean-ups in the St. Louis area — the 7th Annual Confluence Trash Bash. The event is Saturday, March 21, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Volunteers are needed to help clean up rivers and creeks that lie within the Confluence Greenway. Past cleanup efforts have drawn more than a thousand volunteers who have removed 5,000 tires and more than 61 tons of trash and scrap from area streams and rivers.

Volunteers can choose from six starting locations:

• The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (10950 Riverview Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137)
• Creve Coeur Park (2350 Creve Coeur Mill Road, St. Louis, MO 63146)
• Sunset Park (2300 Sunset Park Drive, Florissant, MO 63031)
• Bridgeton Site (13217 Ferguson Ln., Bridgeton, MO 63044)
• Overland (Call 314-427-2401 or 314-662-2401 for location and registration)
• St. Louis City ( 5 Branch Street, St. Louis, MO 63147 )

Specific cleanup sites will then be assigned near each of the starting locations. After the cleanup, prizes will be awarded to volunteers who find the weirdest, biggest and most expensive trash that morning.

Individual volunteers, civic groups and youth organizations are encouraged to volunteer. No experience is required. Volunteers will be provided a free t-shirt, bags, and gloves, courtesy of the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD).

After the event, a free lunch will be provided for all volunteers. Lunch will be served at three sites, which can be chosen on the registration form:

• Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (10950 Riverview Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137)
• Creve Coeur Park (2350 Creve Coeur Mill Road, St. Louis, MO 63146)
• Sunset Park (2300 Sunset Park Drive, Florissant 63031)

Pre-registration is required to participate. Those wishing to volunteer can register at greenwaynetwork.org/projects-issues/confluence-trash-bash.php.

"Volunteers should plan on working hard, having fun, getting wet and dirty, and leaving with the sense that they've contributed to the environment and to our local water quality in a very significant way," said Dona Schuh-Anderson, partner for MSD.

In addition to MDC, other sponsors of the Confluence Trash Bash include: St. Louis Audubon Society, Greenway Network, St. Louis Brightside, St. Louis County, Missouri Stream Team, Missouri River Relief, St. Louis Forward and Big Muddy Adventures. Participating municipalities include: Maryland Heights Parks Department, cities of St. Louis, Creve Coeur, Florissant, Bridgeton, and Overland.