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MRR Trash Mobs

River waves pattern

When the River Calls, We Answer

Sometimes the river doesn't wait for our big organized cleanups. Sometimes it needs us right now - on a Tuesday afternoon, during your lunch break, when you're walking with your kids and notice trash along the river break.  

That's where Trash Mobs come in. 

What's a Trash Mob? 

Think of it as a flash mob for the river. No schedules, no check-in tables, no waiting for the next big event. Just you, some trash bags, and whatever stretch of creek or riverbank is calling your name. 

Follow the steps below to start your own Trash Mob!

Why Individual Action Matters 

Here in Columbia alone, 15 creeks flow toward the Missouri River. Fifteen waterways carrying whatever we leave behind downstream to our neighbors. When you clean up your local creek, you're not just making your neighborhood better. You're protecting the water that flows past Kansas City, past St. Louis, all the way to the Mississippi. 

This is how we change our relationship with the river: one person, one creek, one trash bag at a time. 

We can change our relationship with the river: one person, one creek, one trash bag at a time

Step 1: Location and Supplies

Sometimes a couple of kitchen trash bags will do the trick, sometimes you need something a bit more heavy-duty! We are happy to help with supplies and questions about your cleanup in the Boone County area.* Send an email to stewardship@riverrelief.org and let us know the following:

  • What area are you planning to clean up and do you expect any tires or large overly large objects?
  • What kind of supplies do you need? How many trash bags? How many pairs of gloves?
  • When do you hope to clean up your site? 

*Missouri River Relief is based in Columbia, Missouri, and while we occasionally travel for larger river cleanups, our regular Trash Mob support is limited to Boone County. We know there are people across the state who care deeply about their rivers, streams, and public lands, and even if you’re outside of Boone County, we’re always happy to connect, offer guidance, share ideas, or help point you toward resources in your area.

Know Your Watershed

Knowing your watershed is important not only for reporting your trash numbers but for knowing what creeks and subsequent waterways will be impacted by negative activities upstream and upland. Actions on land often impact the quality of water. Here are some interactive maps depending on where you live that can help you determine your watershed. These maps are best viewed on a desktop. 

Columbia, MO/Boone County

Greater Kansas City Region

St. Louis Metro Area

Step 2: Preparation and Safety

Here are great safety tips when conducting your self-led Trash Mob. Click here to download our safety guide that you can take with you.

  • Wear the proper attire. Wear gloves at all times, closed-toe shoes or boots, and long pants when possible. If working near or around water deeper than knee height or where swimming would be required, wear a life jacket.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings and the members of your group. Work in pairs or groups when possible and check in with each other regularly.
  • If you are working along a road, wear highly visible or reflective gear and stay alert for traffic. Face oncoming traffic whenever possible.
  • Pick a rally point near your cleanup area for bagged trash and large items. Leave large debris visible and next to trash bags when possible.
  • Don’t attempt to move extremely heavy or hazardous materials alone. Team up on heavy items and watch for sharp or rusty edges when lifting or rolling debris.
  • Hazardous materials such as batteries, paint, oil, chemicals, sealed barrels, or unknown containers should not be bagged. Do not open containers with liquid inside. Mark the location, flag the site if possible, and report it to the Department of Natural Resources.
  • Be cautious when handling sharp objects like broken glass or needles. If comfortable handling sharps, place them in a hard plastic container with a secure lid before disposal.
  • Watch for poison ivy, ticks, stinging nettles, insects, and unstable ground such as slippery rocks, mud, or debris piles.
  • Leave wildlife alone. They are in their place and you are their guest.
  • Stay hydrated, take breaks, and be aware of signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others.
  • Clean up during daylight hours when possible, carry a charged phone, and let someone know where you’ll be working.
  • If someone is injured, follow basic first aid practices, keep the injured person calm, and seek medical assistance if needed. Carrying a basic first aid kit is strongly encouraged.
  • If you encounter firearms, suspicious containers, or anything that feels unsafe: Don’t touch it. Don’t risk it. Report it.

Step 3: Disposal

Getting rid of the trash you collected can sometimes be a challenge. The methods and how we are able to help vary greatly by location. Determine how trash will be disposed of before heading out. Tires are a beast in and of themselves and should not go directly in a trash bin. Depending on where you live we may be able to help you out - contact us at stewardship@riverrelief.org to talk about what's possible.

Here are a couple of other suggestions:

  • If you have just a couple bags and are willing and able, securely tie the bags and leave it out on the curb for your regularly scheduled trash pickup - Contacting your local disposal service and giving them a heads up is always the safest bet.
  • Contact solid waste officials in your area to discuss your options. Ask if they would be willing to donate their services
  • Arrange to get the trash to your disposal site. If there are no waste haulers available, you will need to transport trash to a disposal site. 
  • Reach out to businesses along your clean-up route or nearby creek. A lot of times businesses are happy to help out by allowing you to throw away a couple bags of collected trash. Remember to be respectful and not overfill their bin.
  • If you are cleaning up in the Columbia area, drop us a line and we would be happy to help you out.
  • Report any hazardous materials to be dealt with to the Department of Natural Resources. Flag the site and mark it with GPS coordinates. Car batteries, jugs of oil or pesticides can be dangerous and should be disposed of separately.

Step 4: Let us know about your results!

We are here to support your cleanup efforts by providing trash bags, gloves, advice and suggestions but we need a couple of things from you too:

  • Make sure to take pictures of your accomplishments so we can share them with the world. Take a picture of your haul or ephemeral art piece inspired by the trash and post it on social media with the hashtags #riverrelief #trashmob #keepitclean 
  • Reporting your litter clean-up efforts is essential. Reporting these numbers highlights your efforts and ensures funding for the Missouri Stream Team program. Please fill out the details of your trash mob here: bit.ly/trash-mob-report, you can also share your photos with us within this report. If you need help figuring out what watershed you are in, check out the watershed resources in Step 1.
submit your results

Take it a Step Farther: Help Fight Against Plastic Pollution 

Volunteers who want to take their cleanup a step further can help track the litter they collect. Tools like the Marine Debris Tracker and initiatives such as Break Free From Plastic allow individuals and groups to record the types and amounts of trash they find during cleanups.

Collecting this information helps researchers and environmental organizations better understand what kinds of waste are entering our rivers and where it’s coming from. Volunteers can use a mobile app while collecting litter, team up so one person tracks while the other gathers trash, or keep a simple paper tally and submit the data later.

These small contributions make a big impact. Data gathered during cleanups helps identify common sources of pollution and can inform policies, business practices, and community solutions that prevent trash from reaching our waterways in the first place.

Check out how we are taking it a step further through our cleanup efforts.

Clean Rivers Start at Home

Clean Rivers Start at Home was designed with the idea that we could take the next step beyond cleanups and slow the flow of plastic from our homes.

Through this program, we want to encourage people to reduce their personal consumption of single-use plastics.

Check out our new program for ways that you can reduce your plastic use in your daily routine!

Additional Resources

Missouri Stream Team

Missouri stream teams

A Big Muddy thanks to the folks over at Missouri Stream Team who have some great cleanup resources that can be adapted to a small trash mob cleanup and provide us with the supplies.