2nd annual ‘Great St. Johns River Cleanup’ kicks off in Duval County

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Local nonprofits, businesses, government agencies and hundreds of volunteers will be taking part in the second annual “Great St. Johns River Cleanup” which kicked off Saturday in Duval County.

According to St. Johns RIVERKEEPER, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the protection of the river, it will be holding a series of cleanups throughout the St. Johns River watershed from March 16 to April 25.

Nearly 60 cleanup sites are planned in several Northeast Florida counties:

• Duval County: March 16

• Putnam County: April 13

• Seminole County: April 20

• Clay County: April 20

• Volusia County: April 20

• Orange County: April 20

• St. Johns County: April 25

According to Steph Morse, outreach specialist for St. Johns RIVERKEEPER, in 2023, thousands of volunteers collected nearly 1,500 bags of trash throughout the river’s watershed.

While this is the second year the Great St. Johns River Cleanup takes place, this will be the 29th year Keep Jacksonville Beautiful holds the annual St. Johns River Celebration Cleanup.

“Keep Jacksonville Beautiful is delighted to continue our long-term partnership with our friends at St. Johns Riverkeeper on the annual St. Johns River Celebration Cleanup, held annually the third Saturday of March around Duval County,” explained Dan Durbec, executive coordinator of the mayoral-appointed commission.

According to St. Johns RIVERKEEPER, the Great St. Johns River Cleanup brings together new and existing efforts with the goal of increasing awareness, participation, and the amount of trash that is removed from the St. Johns and its tributaries.

To learn more about the Great St. Johns River Cleanup and how to volunteer, visit this website.