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Annual river cleanup starts early with unhoused participation
Summary
Ahead of Saturday’s 22nd annual Grand Valley River Clean Up, outreach groups placed four dumpsters and distributed trash bags, gloves and grabbers so people camping along the Colorado River could begin collecting and disposing of trash.
Content
Organizers and outreach groups began a one-week effort ahead of the 22nd annual Grand Valley River Clean Up to help unhoused people camping along the Colorado River remove trash. They distributed supplies such as heavy-duty trash bags, puncture-proof gloves and grabbers, and placed dumpsters at key encampment spots. The effort follows recent shelter changes in the area and builds on ongoing outreach that has previously removed an estimated 2,000 pounds of waste. City staff will monitor the dumpsters and empty them during the week.
Known details:
- Outreach partners include Mutual Aid Partners, HomewardBound of the Grand Valley, United Way of Mesa County, Peer180, Sunshine Community and the city’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Referral Team.
- Four dumpsters were secured and placed along the river where people are camping; city staff said they will be emptied at least once per day through Friday.
- Mutual Aid Partners estimates previous outreach efforts collected over 2,000 pounds of trash that unhoused people gathered on their own.
- Outreach began the prior Friday with distribution of bags, gloves and grabbers; Peer180 reported at least two dumpsters were filled by Monday.
- The public portion of the Grand Valley River Clean Up is scheduled Saturday from 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., and organizers said community members are encouraged to attend.
Summary:
The early-week effort provided practical waste-disposal resources to unhoused people along the Colorado River and allowed cleanup to begin before the larger public event. Organizers described the week as a potential proof of concept for a more permanent dumpster service, with any long-term plan dependent on community feedback, permission to place a permanent container and funding or donations.
