The 26th annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup, involving 3,500-plus volunteers rejuvenating the parks, forests, playgrounds and paths surrounding the Charles River and its tributaries, will take place on April 25 and 26, 2025, and registration is open. The effort ensures the areas—encompassing an 80-mile stretch and within the 1,100 acres of Emerald Necklace parkland surrounding the Muddy River, a vital tributary of the Charles—remain clean, safe and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

The event is coordinated by several organizations, including the Charles River Conservancy, the Charles River Watershed Association, and the Waltham Land Trust, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Cleanup volunteers improve local environmental health, foster a sense of stewardship for their rivers and communities, strengthen their connection with nature and cultivate lifelong habits of environmental care. The cleanup is part of the American Rivers’ National River Cleanup initiative, which has removed over 32.5 million pounds of trash nationwide.