TENNESSEE RIVERKEEPER CLEANS UP APPROXIMATELY 1,013 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM HUNTSVILLE AND MCDONALD CREEK IN THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER

HUNTSVILLE, AL — Tennessee Riverkeeper, The Orion Amphitheater, and Model Environment removed approximately 1,013 pounds of trash from McDonald Creek and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center on Sunday, October 11, 2026. McDonald Creek is a tributary of the Tennessee River. 

26 people attended and removed 42 bags of trash, as well as large debris including 2 tires, and other large wood and metal debris. The most common trash items found were made from some form of plastic, the most common being polystyrene (“styrofoam”), polyethylene (plastic bottles and shopping bags), and polypropylene (straws).

Orion Amphitheater and TVG Hospitality have supported nonprofit Tennessee Riverkeeper since they came to Huntsville.

“Plastic pollution is a local and global issue. Scientific studies have confirmed that microplastics and chemicals related to the plastic industry are found in humans and wildlife. These cleanups are a great short term solution, but we need bigger solutions that prevent this problem from getting worse,” according to David Whiteside, Executive Director of Tennessee Riverkeeper.

The Tennessee River and its tributaries are often collection zones for litter.  Litter that flies out of garbage trucks or gets thrown out on streets will frequently flow into creeks and rivers after rain events via drainage systems.  Unfortunately, this creates a situation where waterways receive a plethora of plastics.  We now know that this garbage negatively impacts water quality and is much more than just a visible eyesore.

“My family and I had a blast, hanging by the stream and leaving it a bit better than we found it. An excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” added Brett Byford.

“There is no easy solution to plastic pollution. We do know that preventing plastics from entering waterways is an obvious solution and it is easier to remove garbage from the shorelines and shallow water of creeks and rivers.  It is very difficult and inefficient to try to remove litter from deeper water,” added David Whiteside.

In 2026, Tennessee Riverkeeper cleanups have removed approximately 7,327 pounds of trash from entering our waterways. We are planning more cleanups in 2026, stay tuned to our social media sites for more info: https://tennesseeriver.org/engage-with-our-social-media