Rising to the Sorting Challenge

Three cheers to our 2019 trash-sorting challengers! Over the course of 2019, nearly 100 volunteers worked with us on one of our most critical jobs: maintaining and sorting the trash and debris collected at our Trash Traps.
Our work with the trash traps is among the most important duties that the Anacostia Watershed Society performs to ensure that the Anacostia River is on its way to swimmable and fishable. The data we have collected has led to the plastic bag ban in DC and Montgomery County; the polystyrene (aka styrofoam) ban for food packaging in DC and the entire state of Maryland; and the straw ban in DC and Prince George's Counties. Little by little our work is making a huge impact on the health of the river by stopping this form of pollution from entering our waterways.
What happens at the trash sorting challenge? Well, take a look at these wonderful photos from Master Naturalist Amanda Kleinman, who documented our last Nash Run sorting event at the end of November. Volunteers help carry supplies a short walk to the site, then they dig in to the material cleaned out from the trap and sort it into 13 different categories, ranging from the banned items above, to another constant scourge of the river: plastic drinking bottles. Volunteers then weigh how much is collected for each catagory. It's fun and rewarding work where volunteers really get to see what a difference their effort makes.
Stay tuned on our calendar or join our email list to see when our next trash sorting event is.
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Masaya greets the volunteers Masaya greets the volunteers
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The Nash Run trash trap is near Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens The Nash Run trash trap is near Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
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Volunteer carries the buckets used for sorting Volunteer carries the buckets used for sorting
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Volunteers help unload supplies and carry them to the trap. Volunteers help unload supplies and carry them to the trap.
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Masaya works with a volunteer to describe this work. Masaya works with a volunteer to describe this work.
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Masaya works with a volunteer to describe this work. Masaya works with a volunteer to describe this work.
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Safety gear - gloves - are very important for sorting! Safety gear - gloves - are very important for sorting!
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Volunteers look through the material collected at the trash trap. It isn't all trash! Volunteers look through the material collected at the trash trap. It isn't all trash!
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A volunteer finds a plastic water bottle. A volunteer finds a plastic water bottle.
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Volunteers sorting the trash and debris. Volunteers sorting the trash and debris.
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More sorting. More sorting.
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Nash Run trash trap after being cleared out. Nash Run trash trap after being cleared out.
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The trash is sorted into different categories, and the buckets help! The trash is sorted into different categories, and the buckets help!
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More buckets of trash More buckets of trash
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Masaya weighs the trash in one of the buckets Masaya weighs the trash in one of the buckets
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A volunteer marks one of the buckets with the weight and what type of debris. A volunteer marks one of the buckets with the weight and what type of debris.
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Another view of the trash trap Another view of the trash trap
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A volunteer puts the weighed and counted trash into a bag for disposal A volunteer puts the weighed and counted trash into a bag for disposal
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Volunteers hold up some of what they found Volunteers hold up some of what they found
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Group shot of everyone working hard! Group shot of everyone working hard!
https://www.anacostiaws.org/blog/rising-to-the-sorting-challenge.html#sigProIdf589195225
