Omaha/Council Bluffs Cleanup 2023

Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park - Council Bluffs, IA
Saturday, May 20th, 2023

We are hosting a Missouri River cleanup in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area and we'd love your help! We found plenty of trash during out last Omaha/Council Bluffs cleanup in 2021, with our biggest find being a large accumulation of enormous Styrofoam chunks (pictured above) from a small deserted marina called Sandpiper Cove! 257 chunks of Styrofoam were collected that day along with an entire 30-yard dumpster of trash. (See more here about 2021 the Omaha/Council Bluffs Cleanup results). We can't wait to clean up the river with you.

Cleanup Headquarters
Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park
4200 Avenue B
Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Parking
Take Harrah's Blvd to River Edge Service Road and continue north under I-480 and park in the parking lot just south of the large green space.

Saturday, May 20th, 2023
Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and volunteers will return to the boat ramp anywhere from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. for lunch.

What to bring

Dress in layers for changing weather conditions and prepare for cold weather. We will be there rain or shine! Wear work-appropriate clothing. Long pants are strongly recommended. Sturdy shoes or boots are required; no flip-flops or open-toed shoes are allowed on boats. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle and snacks to tide you over until lunch. Always expect muddy conditions.

What you get

Volunteers will receive a free Big Muddy boat ride, cool t-shirt, trash bags, gloves, life jackets, and a reusable water bottle. Lunch will be provided and will be waiting for you when you get back to the boat ramp between 11:30 - 12:30.

Come prepared

Check out our Know Before You Go page to see answers to frequently asked questions and what to expect.

If you are bringing a child under 18 you are not the legal guardian of, make sure to download, print and obtain a signature on our minor risk release form. Adults and minor accompanied by legal guardians will sign risk release forms during on-site registration.

What's next

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email. Two weeks before the cleanup you will receive an email from us with some additional information. The week of the cleanup you will receive an additional email from us with any additional information you need to know, including weather and river conditions. If you are not receiving emails from us, make sure to check your junk folder.

Event Extras

When you return to the boat ramp, there will be two activities you can participate in:

Trash Contest - make sure to bring your best trash find back with you to compete for a prize. Get creative! You and others will put your finds up against each other and the crowd will decide which one is the best. There will be numerous prizes. 

Missouri River Explorer Badge Program - designed for ages 5 to 18. The badge is gained upon the completion of the Activity Card, which includes participation in activities and events that fall under the three tenets of the river. Explore, Learn and Protect. Stop by the booth to earn your badge!

Directions

Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park