On April 5, 2025, the North Arlington Environmental Club joined forces with the Hackensack Riverkeeper Program to participate in an important cleanup event at Kearny Point in Hudson County. This location sits where the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers meet to form Newark Bay. The Hackensack River swamp, which is part of the Meadowlands, has suffered from years of pollution. Specifically, in the 1900s, it was treated as a dumping ground for industrial waste and trash, which caused serious damage to the environment. For this reason, many volunteers dedicated their Saturday afternoons to restoring the area’s natural environment.
Despite the rainy and windy weather, 35 volunteers showed up ready to help. After approximately five hours, they removed 74 bags of trash, 32 old tires, and other miscellaneous and unusual items, totaling about 2,750 pounds of debris. Most of the materials found there were very old; in fact, some of the garbage had been there for over 60 years.
Notably, during the cleanup, two snakes were found hiding in the soil. The snakes were not harmed and were gently returned to their habitat. Near their little hideout, many glass bottles filled with unknown liquids were found, along with needles and syringes, which is a reminder of how harmful pollution can be to the local wildlife. Additionally, the snakes are not the only creatures there. Various marine life live in the river, and all that pollution just a few feet from these animals could harm them.
Furthermore, events like this cleanup help restore these areas and raise awareness about protecting local ecosystems. Not only did this make a significant impact on the area, but it also boosted morale in the community of volunteers. As Mr. Cagnacci, supervisor of the environmental club, said, “It’s hard to feel like you’re not making a difference when you fill up almost 80 bags of trash.”
This was the Hackensack Riverkeeper’s first trash cleaning event of the year. Check their Facebook page to learn about their other clean-ups, or register and help save the environment!