3RC Fast Facts
20,302 lbs. of trash removed from the Anacostia River in 2022 alone!
Trash Talk
2022 Anacostia Trash Tally
20,302
lbs. of trash removed from the river by Anacostia Riverkeeper
1,721
lbs. of plastic bottles
3,630
lbs. of plastic products
2,269
lbs. of glass
1,042
lbs. of food wrappers
Source: the Anacostia Riverkeeper.
Photo by Quinn Molner / Anacostia Riverkeeper
Trashing DC
Can and bottle pollution in DC
3RC for DC members do cleanups alongside the community
Here’s a picture of just one pile of bottles and cans cleaned up at Pope Branch Park on MLK Day 2023
3,500 beverage containers cleaned out in 3 hours!
We cleaned up a similar amount last year
There is a never-ending onslaught of can and bottle pollution turning the Anacostia River into a dumping ground
What keeps us up at night
The main concerns driving our advocacy
The onslaught of bottle and can litter which is turning the Anacostia River and its neighboring parks and streets into a dumping group
Because the problem particularly adversely affects residents of Wards 5, 7 and 8, it’s an environmental justice crisis screaming for a solution
Community volunteers can’t keep up, especially removing plastic bottles
Watershed integrity and plastic pollution in Anacostia and Potomac Rivers
Air pollution associated with incineration of plastic
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic
These laws work!
Why are return-refund-recycling laws effective?
3R systems are proven to bolster statewide recycling rates. Government studies in 7 bottle bill states showed a reduction in beverage container litter ranging from 69% to 84%, and reductions in total litter ranging from 30% to 65%.
Sign the petition
Tell the DC Council and Mayor: Pass a deposit-return law to end bottle & can pollution in DC.