NASHVILLE, TN — Community Cleanup Delivers Big Win for the Cumberland River
A small group of dedicated volunteers proved how powerful local action can be when Tennessee Riverkeeper partnered with Nature and Nurture and The Pontoon Saloon to restore a section of the Cumberland River in West Nashville. On Sunday, March 9, 2025, the team removed more than 1,100 pounds of aquatic litter, making a visible and immediate impact on the river’s shoreline and nearby habitats.
With 12 people pitching in, the crew pulled out 17 tires and collected 24 bags of trash—an impressive haul for a single day’s work. Much of what was removed included tires, plastic bottles, and polystyrene foam (styrofoam), the kinds of items that tend to linger in waterways and break down slowly over time. The result: cleaner banks, safer conditions for wildlife, and a stronger sense of momentum for future restoration efforts.
Prevention + Cleanup = Real Progress
While cleanup events deliver quick results, organizers emphasized an even bigger takeaway: stopping plastics from reaching the river in the first place is the long-term win.
“There is no easy solution to plastic pollution,” said David Whiteside of Tennessee Riverkeeper. “We do know that preventing plastics from entering waterways is an obvious solution… It is easier to remove garbage from the shorelines and shallow water… [and] very difficult and inefficient to try to remove litter from deeper water.”
That insight is exactly why shoreline and shallow-water cleanups matter so much—they’re one of the most efficient ways to intercept waste before it spreads or sinks.
The Litter Story: Plastic Leads the List
As with many river cleanups, plastics made up most of what was found, especially:
- Polystyrene (“styrofoam”)
- Polyethylene (plastic bottles and shopping bags)
For Taylin Lewan of Nature and Nurture, the cleanup was both motivating and eye-opening:
“This is our first time doing a cleanup of this size. We can’t wait to do more. More hands make less work stays true when it comes to these cleanups. It is incredible the difference a few people can make in a short time. If this cleanup taught me one thing, it is to never use styrofoam again.”
That kind of personal shift—people leaving inspired to change everyday choices—is one of the biggest hidden wins these events create.
A Bigger Mission: Fighting Microplastics Through Action and Education
Tennessee Riverkeeper has been tackling the problem for years. In 2019, the organization launched a microplastics campaign focused on removing litter while educating the public about how plastics break down into tiny particles that persist in the environment.
As Whiteside has noted, scientists have documented high microplastic concentrations in the Tennessee River, and researchers warn that microplastics can build up through the food chain over time. (National Geographic coverage referenced in the original article:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/alarming-level-microplastics-found-tennessee-river
Why Nashville Rivers Collect Litter—and Why That’s Fixable
Organizers point out that rivers like the Cumberland can become “collection zones” because everyday litter often travels a predictable path: it blows from unsecured loads, ends up on roads and lots, then gets washed through storm drains into creeks and rivers after rain.
The encouraging part is that this is solvable—through better containment, smarter disposal habits, and ongoing community cleanups that keep pressure on the problem.
Proof It Works: 54,000+ Pounds Prevented
These efforts add up. Tennessee Riverkeeper cleanups have now prevented more than 54,000 pounds of litter from entering local waterways.
“These events show that a few people can make a difference… and cleanups provide some hope for hundreds of thousands of citizens who are concerned about our river and its tributaries,” Whiteside said. “Clean water is a nonpartisan issue; we are all in this together.”
Partners on the Water
Captain Andrew Ostrowsky of The Pontoon Saloon described the cleanup as both enjoyable and meaningful, emphasizing the value of keeping the Cumberland healthy for communities downstream, wildlife, and drinking water.
Next Step: More Volunteers, More Wins
With a strong turnout and measurable results, Tennessee Riverkeeper is already planning the next Cumberland cleanup—and they’re looking for volunteers. The message from this event is simple and optimistic: when people show up, rivers improve fast—and the impact ripples far beyond one shoreline.
