Volunteers Remove 32+ Tons Of Trash From Chattahoochee River

From Special Reports

Volunteers removed more than 32 tons of trash and recyclables from the Chattahoochee River at the 16th Annual Sweep the Hooch cleanup on Saturday, March 21. Organized by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK), Sweep the Hooch brought together nearly 1,400 volunteers at 67 parks, creeks, and river access points throughout the Chattahoochee watershed.

Participants set out on foot, waded in streams, and paddled in canoes and kayaks to collect trash for appropriate disposal. Of the 64,380 pounds (32.19 tons) of trash removed, 5,200 pounds consisted of illegally dumped tires.

Cleanup sites spanned 15 counties, starting at the river’s headwaters in North Georgia and ending in the Columbus metro area. Sweep the Hooch is presented in collaboration with the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which hosted 15 cleanup sites within the Park boundaries.

The impact of Sweep the Hooch continues to grow thanks to the support of community groups, businesses, municipalities, and volunteers. In the past 16 years, Sweep the Hooch volunteers have removed a cumulative 341.5 tons of trash from the Chattahoochee watershed.

“We’re very proud of the impact that Sweep the Hooch has on our communities and ecosystems every year,” says Tammy Bates, CRK’s Outings Director. “An event of this scale is only possible with the support of our volunteers, host partners, team leads, and sponsors. Together, we all feel how rewarding it is to give back to our waterways.”

Sweep the Hooch will return for the 17th year on Saturday, March 20, 2027. Volunteer registration will open next February at sweepthehooch.org.

CRK is proud to host Sweep the Hooch and many other cleanups throughout the year as part of its Trash-Free Chattahoochee initiative. For more information about CRK, visit chattahoochee.org.