Communities along the Ohio River will come together on Saturday, 9 a.m,-noon for a riverwide Ohio River Sweep litter cleanup event. Organized by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and its nonprofit foundation, the Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE), the event will unite volunteers, businesses, community organizations, and local partners in a shared commitment to a healthier Ohio River.
United by the call to action “Rally the River,” volunteers at approximately 23 designated cleanup locations along the Ohio River will work to remove litter and debris from riverbanks and surrounding areas. The coordinated event marks a special end-of-season celebration of the Ohio River Sweep program and the communities that help sustain it.
Established in 1989, Ohio River Sweep is one of the region’s longest-running riverwide volunteer cleanup initiatives. Throughout the cleanup season, ORSANCO and FORE support communities across the Ohio River Basin by providing supplies and resources for volunteer-led litter cleanups along the Ohio River and its tributaries. The October 24 Rally the River event brings that collective commitment together for a coordinated, end-of-season day of action at locations along the Ohio River, from Pennsylvania to Illinois.
“The Ohio River connects our communities in so many special ways, and caring for it is a responsibility we all share,” said Annette Meagher, communication and outreach director for ORSANCO and executive director of FORE. “Rally the River is about bringing people together across the entire river corridor to make a visible difference. Every volunteer, every cleanup site, and every piece of litter removed contributes to a riverwide movement rooted in community pride and a shared commitment to caring for the river that connects us all.”
The Ohio River serves as a vital drinking water source, economic resource, and recreational destination for millions of people, while also supporting a diverse ecological corridor. Removing litter from its banks helps prevent debris from entering waterways, reduces risks to fish and wildlife, and encourages lasting community stewardship. Although preventing litter at its source remains the ultimate goal, removing existing litter from our waterways continues to be essential. Until litter stops entering the river, Ohio River Sweep will continue to rally communities along the Ohio River and throughout its Basin to take action.
Local partners help get the job done
Volunteers are the heart of the Ohio River Sweep program and its success depends on the generosity and collaboration of local businesses, municipalities, community organizations, and partners who support cleanup efforts along the river. From providing equipment and supplies to coordinating litter collection and disposal, these contributions are essential to making volunteer cleanups possible.
Rotary Clubs across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania are also joining the October 24 cleanup, demonstrating Rotary International’s commitment to protecting the environment. Environmental protection is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus, emphasizing the conservation of natural resources, protection of freshwater ecosystems, and community-driven environmental stewardship. Through their participation in Ohio River Sweep, local Rotary members are putting that commitment into action, helping protect the river and strengthen the communities it connects.
To learn more about the event and view the full list of supporters for this year’s program, visit www.orsanco.org/end-of-season-cleanup-event.
Covington vounteers will meet ups at the Mike Fink Landing, Greenup Street and Riverside Dr. and at Roebling Bridge in Covington for the Licking River Paddle Cleanup.
ORSANCO