MDC’s Columbia Bottom Conservation Area serves as a starting location for 10th Annual Confluence Trash Bash March 24

SPANISH LAKE, Mo.— The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is helping to sponsor one of the largest litter clean-ups in the St. Louis area—the 10th Annual Confluence Trash Bash. The event is happening Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. until noon. MDC’s Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake will serve as one of the starting locations for the event.

Volunteers will help clean up rivers and creeks that lie within the Confluence Greenway. Past cleanup efforts have drawn over a thousand volunteers who have removed 5,000 tires and more than 61 tons of trash and scrap from area streams and rivers.  Participants should report for sign up between 8 and 8:45 a.m. There will be free breakfast available for all volunteers before the cleanup begins.

Volunteers can choose from among the following starting locations:

• Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, 801 Strodtman Road in Spanish Lake, 63138
• Creve Coeur Park (2160 Creve Coeur Mill Road, St. Louis, MO 63146)
• Chesterfield River's Edge Park - AGES 16 AND OLDER ONLY - Meet in Mall Parking Lot 13-14, 17089 North Outer 40 Rd #140, Chesterfield, MO 63005.  Head into Bike Stop Cafe for breakfast and registration.
• Florissant, Sunset Park (2300 Sunset Park Drive, 63031)
• Bridgeton Government Center, 12355 Natural Bridge Road, 63044 
• Hanley Hills City Hall, 7713 Utica Dr., 63133 
• Overland Wild Acres Park, 2500 Ashby Road, 63114. NO ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THIS SITE. PLEASE CALL (314) 427-2401 or (314) 662-2401 FOR LOCATION AND REGISTRATION.

Specific cleanup sites will then be assigned near each of the starting locations. Volunteers can also choose to be a single-stream waste sorter at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (10950 Riverview Drive, 63137) to help organizers recycle as much of the trash and debris removed from the waterways as possible and divert it from the landfill.

Individual volunteers, civic groups and youth organizations are encouraged to volunteer. No experience is required. Volunteers should dress for the weather and bring a water bottle and gloves. Trash bags will be provided.  Transportation is available for school and other groups by contacting Colleen Scott (Colleen.Scott@mdc.mo.gov ) at MDC.

Pre-registration is required to participate.  Those wishing more information or to volunteer can register at https://goo.gl/gL36Vb.

Participants are reminded to dress appropriately for weather conditions and in clothes they don’t mind getting wet or dirty.

In addition to MDC, other sponsors of the Confluence Trash Bash include St. Louis Audubon, Greenway Network, League of Watershed Guardians, St. Louis Brightside, St. Louis County, and Missouri Stream Team.

Participating municipalities include St. Louis County, cities of St. Louis, Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, Florissant, Bridgeton, Overland, Hanley Hills, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Jennings, Normandy, Black Jack, Hazelwood, Breckenridge Hills, Chesterfield, and Ballwin.