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Author: Shellie Teague

Osprey Initiative removes over 9,300 lbs of waste from Jefferson County waterways

More than 9,300 pounds of litter materials have been successfully removed from local waterways in Jefferson County since March 2024, according to the Osprey Initiative. The initiative has been working with the county, deploying six devices, including four Litter Gitters and two Litter Booms, across the Cahaba and Black Warrior River watersheds. More than 1,700 […]

Geaux Green or geaux home: LSU takes on the game day recycling challenge

LSU students and organizations show what it means to ‘Geaux Green’ on Sunday with post-gameday recycling efforts. Every year LSU participates in the Game Day Recycling Challenge, a national competition between universities to reduce waste during one home football game. This year, it came down to the LSU-Texas A&M matchup. The challenge is a Campus […]

Residents take action after spotting troubling sight floating down US river: ‘We all have to be vigilant’

Four organizations have come together to better understand the litter problem in rivers in Savannah, Georgia, and to prevent trash from entering these waterways.  As Savannah Now reported, the City of Savannah, Savannah Riverkeeper, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, and Osprey Initiative are collaborating on cleanup efforts.  Their collective goal is to identify the types of litter entering the […]

Binational partnership utilizing technology to help Keep Trash Out of the Rio Grande

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – A new binational partnership is using litter-capturing technology to stop waste before it reaches the Rio Grande. On Wednesday morning, the City of Laredo announced a partnership with Nuevo Laredo, Arca Continental, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, and the Osprey Initiative. Together, the groups are deploying devices on both sides of the border […]

Building Community Capacity to Reduce Marine Debris in Delaware

The Delaware Sea Grant program at the University of Delaware is removing over 11,000 pounds of debris from the upper Delaware Bay through the installation and maintenance of several interception devices. Type of Project: Interception Region: Mid-Atlantic Project Dates: October 2025 – September 2028 Who is involved? With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the Delaware Sea Grant […]

Preventing Pervasive Floating Litter in New Orleans Storm Drains

Pontchartrain Conservancy is working with local partners to trap, remove, and prevent litter from accumulating in the City of New Orleans. Type of Project: Interception Region: Gulf of America Project Dates: November 2025 – October 2028 Who is involved? With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Pontchartrain Conservancy is partnering with Osprey Initiative to install and maintain litter interception devices in […]

Litter booms trap trash in Savannah waterways

Almost 150 miles of canals crisscross Savannah. These manmade drainage systems abound with turtles, wading birds and fish, but they’re also often rife with trash. Styrofoam cups, plastic water bottles, and takeout boxes ride in on the runoff from streets and parking lots every time it rains. Volunteers clean them out periodically, but litter returns […]

Savannah Riverkeeper installing litter traps across Savannah to track trash in waterways

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Savannah Riverkeeper and their partners began their process to install eight litter booms, or traps, in waterways to help reduce plastic pollution. There will also be live-feed cameras tracking storm surge impacts to measure just how much litter flows through the water during any weather events which can help target hotspots as hurricane […]

Litter Gitter Genius: How To Embrace The Suck For A Cleaner World With Don Bates

Waterway litter removal isn’t easy—it’s messy, underfunded, and often overlooked. But for Don Bates, founder of Osprey Initiatives and inventor of the Litter Gitter, that’s exactly why it matters. In this episode, we explore how Don has built a mission-driven company that thrives by embracing the suck—transforming neglected urban streams, engaging underserved communities, and revolutionizing […]

Intercepting and Preventing Marine Debris in the Waterways of Savannah, Georgia

Savannah Riverkeeper is addressing waterborne litter that affects Georgia’s Ogeechee and Savannah River watersheds using proven trash interception devices, comprehensive data collection, and community engagement. Type of Project: Removal Funding Provided: $560,965 Total Project Amount: $617,015 Region: Southeast Project Dates: October 2024 – March 2028 Who is involved? With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Savannah Riverkeeper is partnering with the Ogeechee […]

Earth Day Cleanup at Gulf Village Kicks Off Flood Mitigation Efforts in Prichard Community

In celebration of Earth Day, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) joined forces with the Mobile Housing Authority, Osprey Initiative, SCS Engineers, and the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to conduct a large-scale litter cleanup at Gulf Village Homes in Prichard. The event marks the beginning of a broader effort to address chronic flooding and water quality issues in the area, aligning […]

ExxonMobil joins Baton Rouge allies to protect wildlife, educate students and clean up local waterways

Environmental stewardship is an important part of the mission at ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, and its team members collaborate with local universities, environmental organizations and government agencies to develop solutions that benefit both industry and the environment. One place where this environmental stewardship happens is the Wildlife Education Building (WEB) and Arboretum around ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge […]

Cambridge Gets First Trash Trap to Track Down Choptank Litter

Trash-intercepting devices have been steadily picking up steam in urban waterways on the Chesapeake Bay and around U.S. waters. Baltimore is well known for its “family” of personified Trash Wheels. (In fact, plans for a new Trash Wheel on Back River were just announced). Norfolk installed a floating Seabin at the Nauticus waterfront some years back that captured a big […]

Community colleges around Alabama spending April hosting litter cleanup events

Throughout April, faculty, staff, and students from community colleges are working on community service projects throughout the state.  There will be a series of litter pickup events in order to beautify towns near participating colleges. This will be done in conjunction with Alabama People Against a Littered State and the Coca-Cola UNITED spring cleanup, “Don’t Drop It on […]

Air Products donates $160K to TEDF for litter abatement and beautification efforts

Air Products has donated $160,000 through its Lake Maurepas Community Fund to the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation to support projects to reduce litter and beautify Tangipahoa parish. “Keeping a community litter-free is a massive undertaking, but one that’s well worth the investment,” said Danna LeBlanc, Commercial Executive Director of Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex. […]

Volunteers collect 352 pounds of litter during Alabaster Community Cleanup Day

ALABASTER – Residents worked together to remove litter from Buck Creek Park during Community Cleanup Day in Alabaster on Saturday, March 29. From 10 a.m. to noon, volunteers gathered at Buck Creek Park to search the trails for litter and to remove debris during the cleanup effort that was held in partnership with Osprey Initiative. […]

Cambridge Installs Floating Trash Barriers to Clean Up Waterway

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – About 15 bags of trash were pulled from Cambridge Creek on Tuesday as the city installed a new piece of equipment aimed at keeping the waterway clean. Local leaders believe the device will help address the root of the problem. Litter, carried by the current, often stands out against the natural environment. […]

Chattanooga expanding ‘litter boom’ program to Citico Creek

Citico Creek will soon be cleaner. WaterWays, a local nonprofit dedicated to restoring streams, creeks, and rivers, has installed a litter trap to protect against pollution. Back in May 2023, they placed a “litter boom” in the Chattanooga Creek. Since then, they’ve collected 5,600 pounds of floating debris. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announced the second creek-cleaner’s […]

Floating Litter Boom Launched on Citico Creek for World Water Day

CHATTANOOGA,TN (WDEF) In honor of World Water Day, community leaders gathered today to launch a floating litter boom on Citico Creek, aimed at trapping trash before it harms the environment. Mary Beth Sutton, founder of WaterWays, highlighted the project’s unifying impact, saying, “This brings us all together—fishermen, kayakers, and everyone who needs clean water. It’s […]

State, local beautification NPOs still battling litter

A second litter boom and more float lines have been installed in Mile Branch to further clean up the Covington watershed and its water bodies, an ongoing initiative of the nonprofit Keep Covington Beautiful. The new devices will work in concert with the first boom and line previously installed as a demonstration project.  Both Osprey […]

Alabaster to hold Community Cleanup Day on March 29

Read more at: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2025/03/24/alabaster-to-hold-community-cleanup-day-on-march-29/ ALABASTER – In a joint partnership with Osprey Initiative, the city of Alabaster will hold a Community Cleanup Day this weekend on Saturday, March 29. The Community Cleanup Day will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on March 29 at Buck Creek Park located at 701 6th Ave. SW. Alabaster, […]

Over 830 events planned for Love the Boot Week

 Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser invite everyone in every parish to care for their community during Love the Boot Week, April 5-13. Over 830 events are registered and over 20,000 volunteers are expected to volunteer their time during Louisiana’s largest litter removal beautification event. “Love the Boot Week is an opportunity for people in […]

500 pounds of litter removed from Jefferson Co. waterways

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Osprey Initiative recently removed 500 pounds of trash from its litter boom site in Mulga. Osprey has 15 litter boom sites in Jefferson County that they clear after rainfall. The trash in the roadways is washed into storm drains that eventually end up in waterways. Mitch Lowe is the regional manager […]

Osprey Initiative to host recycling efforts during Love the Boot Week 2025

BATON ROUGE, La. (KNOE) – Keep Louisiana Beautiful is partnering with Coca-Cola to recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans during Love the Boot Week 2025. Love the Boot Week, held annually in April, is Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort. This year, KLB and Coca-Cola are celebrating the week by making recycling litter easier. […]

Local Organizations Continue Efforts to Make Mardi Gras More Sustainable for Third Year

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Office of Resilience & Sustainability is again partnering with New Orleans & Company, and Grounds Krewe, with support from sponsors like Every Can Counts, Entergy New Orleans, and Coca Cola, as well as other partners, on the Recycle Dat! initiative, promoting a more sustainable Carnival season. This year, members of the public can expect new […]