New trash trap installed in the Malden River

  A new trash trap was put into place on the Malden River on November 18. Situated across the northern end of the river, this trash trap will catch and hold trash before it has a chance to float farther down the Malden River and into the Mystic River.

  “Most trash in the ocean comes from rivers, and this trash in the rivers comes from land,” said Mystic Ambassador Sushant Bajracharya of the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA). “Through this trash trap we are having an impact locally, and globally.”

  With an ability to store a high volume of trash, this trash trap is an upgrade from the trash boom that was previously in the Malden River. This improvement is part of MyRWA’s ongoing work to reduce stormwater pollution and improve water quality in the watershed.

  This project was funded in part by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Installing the trash trap in the river was no small feat. MyRWA wants to give heartfelt thanks to these generous partners and community members who donated their time and equipment to make this project possible:

• Friends of the Malden River
• John Preotle Jr., John Spinella, Gilmar Segura & Mike McCarthy of River’s Edge
• Basil and Angelo Rigano, Victor, Jose & Jesus of Rigano’s Towing Service
• Joe Sallese Jr., Carmen Mastropietro & Jamie Duplease of Joe’s Welding and Armor Door & Lock

  Mayor Gary Christenson was present for the installation, and he has shared his support for the Trash Free Malden and Trash Free Mystic initiatives.

  “Protecting water quality and improving our rivers is a team sport,” said MyRWA Executive Director Patrick Herron. “This was an incredible team committed to stopping trash in its tracks on the Malden River. I invite the community to be part of these efforts, and also to get out and enjoy this great resource in their backyard.”

  To learn more about MyRWA’s efforts to reduce trash in the Mystic River Watershed, see https://mysticriver.org/trashfree-mystic.

How to help

  How can community members help? Please pick up trash whenever you see it on the street or in our parks. Most trash in our rivers and lakes comes from the street and is washed into the river through storm drains when it rains. Keeping trash off the streets is the best way to keep our rivers clean.