"I bet you find the craziest stuff in that river..."

Over the years, we've watched as the amount of trash found along the Missouri River has become less & less.  Now, we actually have to search for it, in the weeds and over the banks.  The difference is notable, yet hasn't prevented us from netting nearly 40 tons of junk in a typical year.  

Earlier this year, we watched in amazement after a rain storm in Kansas City, a sea of styrofoam, bottles & cans, and cigarette butts that filled the entire river as if the city had just flushed the toilet.  Coincedently, this happened while we were educating students for a "Day on the River" just downstream at Riverfront Park.  It wasn't hard to make the point, "Where is Away?"  Sadly, this is happening in every single community in which rain falls or the wind blows.  It is not just the big cities problem, it is on all of us to do our part.

As you many of you know, much of what we find out there are "single-use" items like the ever present plastic bag and plastic bottle.  Education is key.  We are ramping up our efforts in this arena to help make change and get the next generation on board for what can be done.  Please consider making a donation to help us in our mission, and continue to make this Trash Tally list smaller and smaller.

  ~Melanie Cheney
Assistant Program Manager

Here's a sample of what volunteers hauled out of the Missouri River in 2013:

 

 2013 Trash Tally!!!

1,146 Bags of Trash

141 Bags of Recyclables
424 Tires
90 Chunks O Syrofoam
394 Hunks O Metal
11 - 55-gal. Metal Drums
17 - 55-gal. Plastic Barrel
3 – 55 gal. plastic Trash Can
48 - 5-gal. Buckets
13 Coolers (plastic & styrofoam)
2  Water Coolers
3 Regrigerators

9 Chest Freezers
3 Compressors
8 TV's
2 Microwaves
1 Tarp
A hundred "Big Muddy" Balls
1 200-gal. Metal Drum
2 Lawnmowers
1 Shop Vac
6 1/2 Fishing Poles
1 bottle of Stink Bait
1 Depth Finder for fishing
3 Fishing Lures
3 Fishing line Weights
13 Bobbers
1 Fishing Hat
1 Minnow Net
1 full container of Chicken Livers
15 Chairs
19 Plastic Tubs
3 Duck Decoys
1 Plastic Net Float
6 -Gas Cans
4- Gas Tanks - 1 with fuel
2 Sinks
4 Toilets
8 Propane Tanks
27 Metal Posts
10 pieces of Carpet & Padding
1 pile of Roof Shingles
1 - 100 gal. Chemical Sprayer Tank
2 sealed 5-gal. Buckets of Petroleum product
6 Orange Traffic Barrels
4 Orange Cones
1 Highway Barricade
4 Plastic Milk Crates
2 Fire Extinguishers
3 Pillows
1 Artificial Christmas Tree
1 embroidered Christmas Pillow
1 Lantern
1 Bike Pedal
1 Batters Helmet

1 Big Glass Jug
1 Typewriter Feed
1 Rubber Frog
1 Plastic Pumpkin
1 External Thumbdrive
1 plastic Koala
1 Humidifier Tank
1 plastic Knife
1 plastic Princess Plate
1 braided Rope Whip
1 Alien Head (actually a chert nodule)
3 Rubber Duckies
1 Sharpie Highlighter
1 plastic drink Thermos
1 metal drink Thermos
Fireworks Detritus
1 Hackey Sack
1 metal Doll Head
2 metal Cook Pots
1 wooden Dice Sign (#5)
4 Tomato Cages
1 Bottle of Laundry Detergent
1 intact Police Barricade
1 Highway Directional Sign
1 Metal Welcome Sign
1 mile marker 8 Highway Sign on post
1 “No Trespassing” Sign
1 “Have a Happy Day” Plastic Cup
1 pair of Roller Skates
21 old Glass Bottles
1 Metal Feeder

1 Wood Duck Box
1 Snow Board
2 Screwdrivers
1 China Plate
1 Popcorn Box
3 Light Bulbs
1 Bullet Casing
Dozens of "single-use" Plastic Bags
1 Cookie Sheet
1 – 1,000 gal. Septic Tank
1 Homemade Raft full of plastic Milk Jugs
1 broken Window
1 - 5/8”x18” Masonry Bit
2 Rolling Suitcases
30 ft of Fire Hose
2 pieces of Siding
5 Balloons from the Pedestrian Bridge
1 Chain
1 Exercise Machine
12  ft. of Chain link Fence
1 Railroad Spike
8 Moldy Blankets
2 Bed Springs
1 Hose Reel w/ Hose
2 partial Bed Frames
2 Sleeping Bags
1 Scaffolding
2 Freon metal tanks
1 plastic Disc
1 Vinyl Siding
1 Plastic Table
1 Marker
1 Pepsi Label
1 Fuse Box
1 Ring
1 Poker Chip
1 G.I. Joe Doll
1 Water Bottle
1 Dog Tag “Charlie”

1 Jump Rope
1 pair of Jeans
1 Leather Belt
1 Yugi-oh Sheet/Cape
1 Black Jacket
1 Huskers T-shirt
1 Vest
1 Blarney Pin
1 Heart Necklace
1 Frisbee
1 King Size Sharpie
1 Electric Box
1 Sweat Band
1 pair of Pliers
1 Police Tape
1 $10 Bill
1 Broken Crutch
1 Mug
1 Travel Bag
1 piece of a Lamp
1 Inhaler
1 can of Vegetable Stew
1 Light
1 CD Case
1 Ameristar Casino Scale Replica
1 Intake Manifold
1 iron Commemorative Plaque – “Matt Ferguson, 1894 to 1969”
3 squares of green Astro-Turf
1 Plastic Pallet
1 Plastic Hose
1 Plastic Grate
32 concrete Construction Pins
21 Plastic Pipes
3 pieces of Construction Fencing
1 Plastic Lid to a Dumpster
4 Drainage Pipes
1 sheet of Fiberglass
7’ of orange Plastic Tubing
1 Cabinet
1 Door
1 round Plastic End Table
1 Fringed Blanket
2 Quilts
1 - 4x8 sheet of Fiberglass
1 Backpack
1 toy Toilet
1 Baby Doll Head
2 Baby Doll Arms
1 Doll Leg
1 Necklace still in bubble gum machine plastic bubble
1 Green Buoy
1 Leather Sandal
1 Tennis Shoe
1 Croc
4 Flip Flops
1 Leather Shoe
1 artificial Hibiscus Flower
1 Skateboard
1 purple Bubble Wand
1 bag of Sudafed wrappers
1 Medicine Bottle
1 plastic Red Shovel
1 Arrow
1 Baseball Helmet
1 Toy Horse Cart
1 flammable Class 3 Window Placard #1993
1 signed Tony the Tiger Baseball
8 ft of Plastic Pipe
1 3x3 ft Wall with Insulation
3 Paint Cans
1 Concrete Boot Anchor

1 ½” Tubing
1” Cable
4x16 ft of Sheet Metal
3 Window Weights
2 Beverage Mugs
1 Spot Light
1 Electric Conduit Box
1 Rusty Skillet
1 Hockey Puck
Sasquatch’s Toe Spreader
2 Fan Blades
1 Boat Bumper
2 Hearts
2 Metal Hooks
1 Sledding Suit
1 Rocket Launcher
1 Septic Pump
1 Easter Egg
1 Sippy Cup
1 Red Light
1 Boot
1 Fancy Baby Bottle w/ nipple
1 Giant Fork
1 Toy Tank
1 Tiny Trashcan
1 Porky the Pig red piggy bank
6 License Plates
5 Car Bumpers
1 Honda Side Mirror
1 Hubcap – Desoto
1 Carburetor

1 Trailer Light
1 car Head Light
1 Car Hood
1 Car Fender
2 Car Axles
1 Car Trunk Lid
4 Exhaust Pipes
2 Mufflers
1 Car Frame
1 Power Brake Booster
1 Oil Drainpan
1 Camper Shell
2 Ford Grills
1 Brake Light
1 Engine Cover
2 Hubcaps
1 Car Mirror
1 Gear Lube
1 Brake Pad
1 huge Mud Flap (18-wheeler)
1 Shaving Crème – travel size
1 yellow Plastic Elephant

1 yellow Plastic Dinosaur
1 Fire Truck
2 Plastic Turtle Sand Box's
1 Kids Sled
1 Chair Cushion
4 Plastic Pots
1 Shower Rod
1 plastic sidewalk Ashtray
1 Rubber Hose
1 Rubber Noodle
1 Plastic Slide
1 Ernie Doll (of Bert & Ernie)
1 Guitar Case
½ of a Shopping Cart
3 Hypodermic Needles
1 Plastic Shower Base
12 pieces of Walnut Floor Paneling
10 ton Screw Shackle
1 7-ft Metal Culvert filled with Stryofoam
1 Metal Chest
1 Boat Locker
7 Tent Poles
2 Swimming Pool Liners
1 rubber Grid Mat
1 Wire Screen
1 Hand Mixer
1 metal Window Frame
2 Mower Blades
11 - 2” Planks with Joist Supports
1 Heavy Metal Pipe elbow marked 1896
1 Christmas Cookie Tin
1 plastic Pedestal
1 Box Fan
1 Plant Hanger
4 Large Plastic Jugs
2 Refrigerator Doors
1 Drier Front
1 turquoise Oven Door – Hotpoint

1 Key to a Four Wheeler
1 pair of Long Underwear
1 Computer Mother Board
1 plastic Office Chair Mat
1 large Dice
1 standing Basketball Hoop
3 unopened bottles Bacardi Raz
4 Mardi-gras bead necklaces
12 Jose Quervros bottles
2 full Cans of Soda
1 Margarita Mix
11 full Cans of Beer
1 full Mike’s Hard Lemonade
1 tiny bottle of Spiced Rum (empty)
1 Glass Bong with frog décor
1 Tobacco Tin
1 Can Coozie's
2 Pregnancy Tests (both negative)
4 pairs of Underwear
1 Sexy Body Spray
1 Push Broom
1 Picture Frame
12’ electrical cable
1 Cow Feeder Top
1 50 gal. plastic cow trough
1 Arrow
6 Messages in a Bottle!  Ex:  “We’re drowning…with love. Liz & Kevin, Future Alcoholics of the Midwest, 2007”
2 plastic Little Tykes Tricycles
1 Converse Shoe
1 intact Kit-Kat Bar
1 Travel Suitcase
2 Water Ski's
1 Jet Ski
150 ft. of Barge Rope
1 Humidifier Tank
3 Florescent Light Ballasts
1 Stroller
1 Helium Balloon Tank
1 Tractor Seat
1 Shovel
1 Concrete Test Core
1 Chainsaw Chain
2 Chemical Sprayers
25’ Corrugated Tubing
22’ Rubber Hose
1 Ceiling Tile
1 Firebox Liner Brick
1 large orange Vinyl Floater
1 large Conveyor Belt
1 Grill
1 plastic Pumpkin shell
3 Duck & Goose Decoys
1 men’s Polo Shirt (perfect condition)
1 Life Jacket
1 string of Owl Lights
1 St. Christopher Charm
1 Green Rabbits Foot
1 Red Flag with Flowers
1 Dodge Ram Hood Orniment
1 Notebook
1 Flower Scrunchie
1 side to a Price Chopper shopping cart
1 unique Oil Can
1 Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter
1 Stereo Speaker
1 purple Koala
1 Toy Wheels
1 pair of plastic Hipster Glasses
1 pink Headband
1 Perfume Bottle
1 Machete
1 Boat Hook
1 Casino Business Card
1 Speaker
1 plastic Genie Bottle

Thank You 2013 Volunteers, Sponsors & Partners!!!

Hartsburg Results!

Hartsburg Missouri River Clean-up

MDC Public Boat Access, Hartsburg, MO

October 19th, 2013

Total Volunteers: 194 

MRR Crew:  32 

Boats:  10  (5 Missouri River Relief, 1 MDC, 2 DNR 1 MU Coop, 1 Private) 

River Miles:  9 miles (Missouri River miles 156 - 165) 

River Level: 5.4 ft on the Jefferson City gage 

Tires: 30 Tires (approx. .5 tons) 

Landfill Tonnage:  1.24 tons 

Recycling Tonnage: approximately .6 tons 

Scrap Metal:  .6 tons 

Total Tonnage:  2.9 Tons!

Groups and Agencies Involved:  Missouri River Relief, Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources, Missouri Dept. of Conservation, University of MO Coop Unit,  William Woods University - Project 123, Lincoln University - MANRRS, Fema Corps S4, Fema Corps B1, UMKC – SEC, Battle High - Volleyball Girls, Hickman High School - Biology Club, Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson City, Missouri Stream Team's –  211, 1875, 2504, 3419, 3802,, Rock Bridge High School – SEC, MO Master Naturalists, Lincoln University – Wildlife Society, True/False set-up crew

Names of River Teams:  Stream Team 3802, Resource Recovery, Sweet Pickles, River Dykes, Giant Purple Banana Eaters, Trash F@#$%$, Lincoln Corps, Five Star, BajaTisa, MANRRS, Kewps, Team Bajsyl, Turnups, Fantastic Princesses, Team Tiger, Awesome Varsity Squad, Un-Electronics, Alfredo, Raven Claw, Hickman Biology Club

Trash Tally!!!!

76 Bags of Trash

39 Bags of Recyclables

30 Tires

4 – 5-gal. Plastic Buckets

1 – 5-gal. Metal Drum

2 – 55 gal. Metal Drums

4 – 55 gal. Plastic Barrels

1 – 55 gal. Plastic Barrel Lid

4 – Large Plastic Jugs

2 – Refrigerator Doors

3 – Chest Freezers

2 – Compressors

4 Propane Tanks

1 Large Propane Tank with regulator

1 Plastic Shower Base

1 Toilet Base

2 Plastic Milk Crates

1 TV

2 partial Bed Frames

1 Folding Chair

1 Plastic Trash Can Lid

1 Plastic Table

1 Car Bumper 

1 Muffler

1 huge Mud Flap (18-wheeler)

6 ft of Carpet

8 ft of Plastic Pipe

1 3x3 ft Wall with Insulation

1 Full, sealed bottle of Virex AIDS medication (valued at $400)

2 Paint Cans

6ft of Rebar

1 Plastic cup from Jolly Roger's in Sioux City, IA

1 Concrete Boot Anchor

1 Lady Speed Stick Deoderant

1 fully functioning Sharpie permanent marker

2 Inner Tubes

1 ½” Tubing

1” Cable

4x16 ft of Sheet Metal

1 Window Weight

5 pieces of Scrap Iron

33 Balls

4 Flip Flops

2 Beverage Mugs 

1 Car Mirror

1 Spot Light

1 small Propane Bottle

1 Electric Conduit Box

1 Halloween cookie tin

1 Rusty Skillet

1 Hockey Puck

Sasquatch’s Toe Spreader

2 Fan Blades

2 Little Coolers

2 Hearts

2 Metal Hooks

1 Sledding Suit

1 K-State Can Coozie

½ Fishing Pole

1 Rocket Launcher

1 Septic Pump

1 Easter Egg

1 Sippy Cup 

1 Red Light

1 Brake Pad

1 concrete Boot

1 Fancy Baby Bottle w/ nipple

1 Giant Fork

1 Toy Tank

1 Tiny Trashcan

1 Sexy Underpants 

1 Brake Light

Fireworks Detritus  

1 Lantern   
1 Bike Pedal
1 Batters Helmet

1 Big Glass Jug

1 Minnow Net

1 Typewriter Feed

1 Rubber Frog

1 full container of Chicken Livers

1 Plastic Pumpkin

1 Hypodermic Needle 

1 Fishing Hat

1 Bobber

1 External Thumbdrive

1 plastic Koala

To read more about the clean-up and view results, check out our 2013 Hartsburg Clean-up webpage.

Kansas City Missouri River Ed Events

Kansas City Missouri River Ed Events

“Day on the River”- Riverfront Park, KC, MO

“KC Watershed Festival”- Lakeside Nature Center, KC, MO

October 2-4^th, 2013

Staley High School:  14

Benjamin Banneker:  40

KC Watershed Festival:  160

MRR Crew:  11

Total Students & Teachers:  234

Service Learning Clean-ups:  6

Rivermiles Cleaned:  5 (Missouri River miles 360 – 365)

Total Tonnage:  .8 tons

Day on the River Presenters:

KC Parks & KC Wildlands - River Wildlife & Conservation, live reptiles & birds

US Army Corps of Engineers – Conservation Careers, MO River Recovery, live fish & turtles 

MRR - Know Your Big Muddy, Recycle Relay

   

 

 

KC Watershed Presentations:  Recycle Relay, Trash Boat, Enviro Scape

Sponsors:  “Day on the River” is supported by grants from US Fish and Wildlife Service, Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources and Mo. Dept. of Conservation. 

The Kansas City Watershed Festival hosted by the Little Blue River Watershed Assoc. and Healthy Rivers Partnership. 

Coordinators:  Day on the River:  Steve Schnarr, Dave & Fran Stous

                             KC Watershed Festival:  Larry O’Donnell, Vicki Richmond

“Day on the River” Trash Tally!

38 Bags of Trash

1 Big TV Screen

1 Chair Cushion

2 Plastic Pots

1 5-gal. Bucket

1 Turtle Sand Box

1Big Blue Packer

2 Tires

50 lbs Scrap Metal

50 ft. of Barge Rope

1 Humidifier Tank

1 Metal Sign

1 Message in a Bottle – Jar Joke

 

Tires:  .0175 tons

Trash:  .76 tons

Scrap Metal:  .025 tons

Total Tonnage:  .8 Tons  ~ (nearly 1 Ton!!!)

To view all photos from "Day on the River", please visit our Flickr album! 

Click here to view photos of the Kansas City Watershed Festival "Recycle Relay Race"  

KC River Clean-up Results 2013

Kansas City Missouri River Clean-up

La Benite Park, Kansas City, MO

October 5^th, 2013

  

Total Volunteers:  289

MRR Crew:  22

Boats:  12  (5 Missouri River Relief, 5 MDC, 1 Burns & Mac, 1 Private)

River Miles: 10 (Missouri River miles 347-357)

River Level: 10 ft on the Kansas City gage

Tires: 25 Tires (approx. .4 tons)

Landfill Tonnage:  3.2 tons

Scrap Metal:  approx. .07 tons

Total Tonnage:  3.7 Tons!

Names of River Teams:  Jesse Gochenour Memorial Fund, River Rats Troop 332, Spider Monkeys, Green Inks, Cargills, Frog Legs, Lena, Lipton TeaBags, GAP, Obnoxious Otters, River Hawks, SeaLife, Evil Bleeding Fish, William Christman, Brownies, Mark Twain, Sharks, 6 Rocks, Brownies 2, Rockhurst, Mohawks, Americorps, OWWC, No Names, Stewart, Awesomer Brownies 3, Black Sheep, Mo Miscreants, Meercats, Jason’s Fam

Trash Tally!!!!

174 Bags of Trash

11 Tires on the Rim

9 Tires w/o Rim

1 Jet Ski

3 Propane Tanks

1 Fire Extinguisher

3 Florescent Light Ballasts

1 Trash Dispenser

1 Hinged Pillow

1 Stroller

1 Cooler

4 Chunks O’ Styrofoam

10 5-gal. Plastic Buckets

5 Orange Traffic Barrels

2 55- gal. Plastic Barrels

1 Chair Frame

1 Camp Chair

1 Shower Rod

1 plastic sidewalk Ashtray

1 Rubber Hose

1 Car Bumper
1 Engine Cover

1 Gas Tank

2 Hubcaps

Plywood

1 Rubber Noodle

1 Plastic Slide

1 Ernie Doll (of Bert & Ernie)

1 Guitar Case

1 Soccer Ball

2 Basket Balls

½ of a Shopping Cart

1 Syringe

1 Chain Link Fence in pieces

Rebar

15 lb metal Counter Weight

10 ton Screw Shackle

1 7-ft Metal Culvert filled with Stryofoam 

1 Metal Chest

22 yards of Heavy Barge Line

1 Fishing Pole

1 Boat Locker

7 Tent Poles

1 Swimming Pool Liner, Cover & Straps

1 PVC Pipe

Construction Fencing

See all of the photos from the 2013 Kansas City Missouri River Clean-up HERE.  More results and the story of the clean-up on our webpage.