Millions of pounds of trash enter Earth's oceans every year. Of that amount, almost 80% of the trash is land-based, meaning it originates from human use on land. In an effort to curb this pollution, taking part in a creek or river cleanup helps to prevent local trash from entering our world's oceans.
Join United by Blue for a cleanup of Cobbs Creek and Cobbs Creek Park; a major section of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park System, the largest urban park in the country! By volunteering, you are helping us work to fulfill our mission: for every item sold United by Blue removes a pound of trash from our world's oceans and waterways.
Cobbs Creek forms the border between Philadelphia County and Delaware County. It later joins Darby Creek before flowing into the Delaware River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
Getting There:
You will be provided bus transportation to and from the cleanup, beginning at Sixers HQ at the Navy Yard.
What to Expect:
We encourage all volunteers to wear long pants or shorts past the knee, knee-high water resistant boots, or very sturdy shoes that are water-resistant, layered top (t-shirt and long sleeved options) and bring along a refillable water bottle. We will provide gloves, bags, bug spray, suntan lotion, and water.
Plan on working for a couple hours along the creek, picking up trash and debris, and breaking for lunch on-site at the close of the cleanup.
Flex your competitive spirit: during the cleanup, UBB staff members weigh trash as brought in by volunteers and tally the total weight at the end. On the designated clipboard/sheet, you will make your guess of the total weight (in pounds) that has been removed. The volunteer with the closest guess wins a United by Blue bag! You should also keep an eye out for any “weird trash” during the cleanup. Past weird trash winners have included half of a canoe, a haz-mat container, a 1998 College diploma, and a mannequin head. You'll place the weirdest trash items on our weird trash mat with an associated number tag. The winner is voted on by your fellow volunteers, on the same sheet as total weight guess. The person who finds the weirdest piece of trash also wins a United by Blue bag!
