Mystic, Connecticut River Cleanup Brings Volunteers Together on Land and Water

On May 16, 2026, Ocean Recovery Community Alliance (ORCA) hosted a volunteer cleanup in Mystic, Connecticut, alongside Adventure Mystic and Northswell. Volunteers spent the day collecting trash both from kayaks on the Mystic River and on foot throughout downtown Mystic. The sunny weather made for a great day outside while teams removed litter, including balloons, glass bottles, plastic bottles, and other debris from the shoreline and surrounding areas.

Event Details

The cleanup covered multiple parts of Mystic, with volunteers splitting into groups on land and water. Kayakers worked through sections of the river collecting floating debris and shoreline trash, while other volunteers walked through town picking up litter along streets, sidewalks, and waterfront areas.

One of the more unusual finds from the day was a message in a bottle. While it turned out to be from 2025 and written by a young couple, it still stood out among the usual debris collected during the cleanup.

With clear skies and calm conditions, volunteers were able to cover a large area throughout the afternoon.

Partner Recognition

ORCA partnered with Adventure Mystic and Northswell for this Mystic cleanup. Their support helped make it possible to organize both the kayak crews on the river and the volunteers working throughout town.

What Was Found

Volunteers removed a mix of common shoreline and street debris, including:

• Balloons

• Glass bottles

• Plastic bottles

• Floating river trash

• Miscellaneous litter throughout downtown Mystic

Items like balloons and plastic bottles can easily move through storm drains and waterways, eventually breaking down into smaller plastic fragments.

Why It Matters

Trash collected along rivers and waterfront towns does not stay in one place for long. Debris from streets and shorelines can quickly enter the water and move downstream into larger coastal ecosystems.

Removing litter early helps reduce hazards for wildlife and prevents materials like plastic and glass from continuing to accumulate along the shoreline.

Get Involved

ORCA hosts volunteer beach cleanups and waterway cleanups across Rhode Island and Connecticut throughout the year. If you want to join a future volunteer beach cleanup, visit our events page to sign up.

Support future cleanups by donating or partnering with ORCA at an upcoming event.

Ocean Recovery Community Alliance (ORCA) is a nonprofit organization focused on beach cleanups and ocean conservation across Rhode Island and Connecticut.