ALTON - The Three Rivers Project of the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Group (PPG) is planning a River Road cleanup on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The public is invited to help rid the environment of debris that harms physical habitats, threatens aquatic life, and transports chemical pollutants to rivers, marine and coastal environments. Of all trash, plastic trash has the greatest potential to harm the environment, wildlife, and humans. The Mississippi River flows over 2,000 miles from its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Items that we use every day - like disposable coffee cups, masks and plastic bags – can end up in the environment, making their way to our river.
“We are asking residents to join the Sierra Club to be a part of the solution to combat plastic pollution along the Mississippi River by helping to pick up litter in Alton, IL.,” said Christine Favilla, Three Rivers Project Coordinator for the Sierra Club. “Up to 80% of marine plastic originates on land, and rivers are a major route for plastic litter to be transported from inland communities to the ocean.”
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The upcoming Fall litter cleanup will take place along the Great River Road from Ardent Mills upstream for 1.25 miles to Piasa Park (cave area). Meet at the pollinator garden across from Morrisons Pub on State Street near the Miles Davis mural. All are welcome. Please invite your friends and family. Please register at https://sc.org/RiverRoadCleanUp where you will have access to a map of the exact location. Participants should bring their own water bottle and wear boots or sturdy shoes. Organizers will provide trash bags, gloves, and safety vests. Dress in layers as the weather may be chilly. Steady rain cancels.
This past year, the PPG has held numerous clean ups, most recently as part of their Mississippi Earthtones Festival Great River Clean Up on National Public Lands Day, September 20th. That event brought 33 volunteers to the banks of the Mississippi River where they boarded boats piloted by Grafton’s Beasley Brothers and Living Lands and Waters. The volunteers netted over 3 tons of trash and easily filled a 15-yard drop-off dumpster, plus 11 tires and a buoy.
Save the date: 1/19/2026 9:30- 11:30 am The Sierra Club will host a MLK Day of Service Litter Clean-up starting at James H. Killion Park at Salu and clean up litter toward Rock Springs Park and a Presidents Day of Service Litter Clean-up at Belle and Alby Streets. Please look on the Sierra Club calendar for the registration form closer to the date, at sc.org/piasapalisades
