“The weather was on our side, and it truly enhanced the experience for all the volunteers,” David Snyder, a member of the Clean Up organizing team said.

2023 marked the 15th year for the signature event that has hauled tons and tons — literal tons and tons — out of the river since 2009.

This year’s Cleanup focused on the 22-mile stretch of the Allegheny River between Warren and the Tidioute Boat Launch. “The outcome was impressive, with volunteers removing over 80 tires, some of them remarkably large, more than 60 of them from a single location on one of the islands near Tidioute,” Snyder said.

On top of that, about 13 cubic yards of garbage were picked up.

This year’s Allegheny River Clean-Up pulled over 80 tires out of the Allegheny River, including this one hauled by Jeff Eggleston.

That marks a decline from previous years but Snyder called that a “testament to the positive impact of ongoing clean-up initiatives.”

He told Warren City Council last month that an average volunteer now would handle less than half of the recyclable metal, one-fourth of the tires and 12 percent of the garbage than they would have in 2009.

“Local support was phenomenal, with community members contributing and helping us collect an impressive 6,000 pounds of recyclable metal,” Snyder said. “It’s a powerful illustration of what we can achieve when we come together for a shared cause.”

In addition to metal collected from the river, a recycle dumpster was placed in North Warren to allow the public to contribute. Funds raised from the recycled metal help offset the costs of the effort.

Snyder was quick to point out that it’s the volunteers that make this kind of event happen.

“Their dedication and enthusiasm are what make this annual event such a success,” he said. “It’s not just about cleaning up; it’s about making a lasting difference in our environment and fostering stronger community connections.”

And those connections are clear.

“The sentiment is clear: collaborative efforts underpin success, leaving a lasting positive impact on the watershed and strengthening the sense of community,” Snyder said. “The future holds promise for even more impactful environmental improvements, fueled by collective determination.