Volunteers Needed for Sweep The Hooch Cleanup
Atlanta, GA – Volunteers are needed on Saturday, March 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for the 16th annual Sweep the Hooch cleanup. Organized by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK), Sweep the Hooch brings more than 1,500 volunteers together each year at dozens of parks and creeks throughout the Chattahoochee River watershed.
Volunteers set out on foot, wade in streams, or paddle canoes and kayaks to collect trash for appropriate disposal and recycling. CRK provides durable gloves and trash bags for each participant. Volunteers receive a one-year CRK membership to thank them for their hard work.
This year, participants can choose from over 65 cleanup sites spread across 15 counties, beginning 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 will host 15 cleanup sites within the Park boundaries.
The impact of Sweep the Hooch has grown significantly over the years thanks to the support of community groups, businesses, municipalities, and volunteers. In 2025, Sweep the Hooch set two new records: 1,500 volunteers participated and removed 82,000 pounds (or 41 tons) of trash and recyclables from the river basin, more than ever before removed in a single day.
“The volume of trash in the river and its tributaries is overwhelming,” says Tammy Bates, CRK’s Outings Director. “That’s what’s great about Sweep the Hooch: volunteers can put in the hours and actually see what they’ve accomplished at the end of the day. Repeat participants look forward to this day every spring and we welcome new faces to the fold each year.”
Volunteers can sign up for a cleanup site near them at sweepthehooch.org. Participation is free, but individual registration is required. Teams, clubs, and community groups are welcome to participate, but are encouraged to sign up early; once a site reaches capacity, registration for that site will close.
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.
