The Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative
Clean River, Clean Seas
The Mississippi River is the drainage system for 40% of the United States – all or part 31 US States and 2 Canadian Provinces.
Plastic waste and other litter travel through storm drains, tributaries, and rivers into the Mississippi River, making its way into the ocean.
Under the leadership of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), the mayors of the Mississippi River in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, National Geographic Society and the University of Georgia have launched an initiative to combat plastic pollution along one of the world’s greatest waterways.
The Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative Partnering
Mississippi River Cities play a critical role in data collection and spreading awareness of plastic pollution in the environment.
Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative Next Steps
Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative Cities
Initial Pilot Phase: BATON ROUGE, LA, ST. LOUIS, MO, ST. PAUL, MN
The initiative began in Spring 2021 data collection in three pilot locations along the Mississippi River: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; St. Louis, Missouri; and St. Paul, Minnesota. As pilot locations, these cities promoted education and outreach materials about plastics in inland waters and supporting local data collection events in their communities.
St. Paul represents the upper river of the Mississippi. As the capital of Minnesota, St. Paul has a large commercial, manufacturing and transportation industry. The city has more shoreline on the Mississippi than any other city and is head of navigation of the river.
The city of St. Louis represents the middle of the Mississippi River. Sitting on the western bank of the river, St. Louis is one of the major cities in the river valley area. A major distribution and transportation center, the city remains a major part of the inland waterway system.
Baton Rouge represents the lower river of the Mississippi. Located in Southeastern Louisiana, Baton Rouge is situated at the mouth of the Mississippi River and remains an integral part of the nation’s logistics and energy networks.
Let’s Thank our St. Paul, St. Louis, and Baton Rouge Partners
Our partners are dedicated to reducing plastic pollution in the Mississippi River Watershed
Click the image below to find the full report of the initial pilot phase:
Second Phase: QUAD CITIES – Bettendorf, IA, Davenport, IA, Rock Island, IL, Moline, IL, East Moline, IL
The Second Phase was implemented in October, 2021 in the Quad Cities located in Illinois and Iowa straddling the Mississippi River. These cities promoted education and outreach materials about plastics in inland waters and supporting local data collection events in their communities. Click the image below to find the full report of the initial pilot phase:
Quad Cities
Thank you to our Quad Cities Partners
Click the image below to find the full report of the second phase:
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