The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has partnered with the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative to launch a recent project focuses on trash capture in waterways and raising public awareness activities on land-based sources of marine plastic litter and debris in the community. Following the success of the October, 2021 Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative in the Quad Cities, the overwhelming community engagement and robust data collection is the perfect lead-in for this CEC project.

The project goals are as follows:
1. Install trash capture devices
2. Undertake Community Science Activities
3. Implement Inland Litter Public Awareness Campaign

Three capture devices have been installed in the pilot city of Davenport in Duck Creek, Silver Creek, and Goose Creek. Maintenance and litter data collection is underway. While the capture devices are located in Davenport, the Quad Cities as a whole are affected by litter that travels through tributaries to the Mississippi River, ultimately ending up in the Gulf of Mexico and our oceans. Community Science and the awareness campaign will occur throughout the Quad Cites
region.

On October 15, 2022 an event will take place at the Freight House Farmers’ Market signaling the kickoff of the community science activities with an overview of the project.

Stay tuned for more details!