CAMBRIDGE, Md. - About 15 bags of trash were pulled from Cambridge Creek on Tuesday as the city installed a new piece of equipment aimed at keeping the waterway clean.
Local leaders believe the device will help address the root of the problem. Litter, carried by the current, often stands out against the natural environment. Now, officials hope the newly installed floating barrier will help prevent trash from reaching the marina.
“This is a floating barrier that collects litter as it comes down to Cambridge Creek before it goes out into the marina,” said Yael Girard, senior project manager at Osprey Initiative.
The device consists of two vinyl litter booms that collect aluminum cans and plastic bottles floating on the surface. Beneath them, a skirt traps smaller debris, such as chip bags, without disturbing marine life. Fish can still swim freely under the barrier.
The project is a collaboration between the city of Cambridge, the Osprey Initiative, Shore Rivers, Trash Free Maryland and the River Network. The city will clean the barrier weekly, but officials say its purpose extends beyond just collecting trash.
“We also hope to figure out the trends. Are we finding bottles? Are we finding Styrofoam?” said Cambridge Mayor Lajan Cephas.
The data collected will help officials identify sources of pollution.
“If you find that you have a lot of brand-new material, that means you have active littering somewhere—that litter is coming from right after it comes out of the store, it’s coming into the environment,” Girard explained. "When you have a lot of old litter, that means you probably have a deposit of litter somewhere upstream that needs to be addressed. So maybe a low spot next to the river that fills up with material and only flushes out every once in a while, then that can address how we do our future litter interception projects.”
Officials hope the device will also serve as a visible reminder for residents to be more mindful of littering.
“As people are driving by, my hope is that they recognize the trash that’s collected behind the boom, and then maybe just take a little personal reflection and see, you know, am I part of the problem, or can I help be part of the solution?” said Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper with Shore Rivers.
The trash trap was purchased through a grant that will also fund its maintenance for the next two years, Cambridge leaders said.