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ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS
  • Programs
    • Bee City USA Asheville >
      • Pollinator Garden Certification
      • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
      • Pollination Celebration >
        • Pollinator Photo Contest
    • Rivers & Roads >
      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Cleanup Supply Stations
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
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Picture

Trash Trout

Through a grant from the Pigeon River Fund Asheville GreenWorks initiated a pilot program to keep litter from entering the French Broad River. Installed summer 2015, the Trash Boom pilot worked to gather information about the amount of trash that enters our most urban streams. ​ The pilot was a success and allowed us to design a series of new devices.

Our first trash trap was a repurposed pontoon boat outfitted to sit patiently in a waterway and passively capture man-made litter. Version 2.0 of the Trash Trout was the work of Elastec the worlds leader in oil spill containment and cleanup. President & Owner Jeff Cantrell set his team to design a device that could withstand the rigors of a high flowing tributary, yet easily capture stormwater generated litter. Named the Brute Bin, this version is in it for the long haul. Professionally built, affordable and designed to catch trash for decades to come. Come check it out in the Hominy Creek.
Where is the trash coming from?

Roadside littering accounts for approximately 75% of the trash in the French Broad River basin. This trash is funneled through our storm drain systems directly into our creeks and in some cases, this storm-water is piped directly into the river. No filters or other mechanisms were in place to keep the trash from entering our waterways. Once the trash has entered the water, it begins an accelerated process of photodegradation. Whereby the petroleum based products (plastics / polystyrenes) begin to break into smaller pieces. These tiny pieces of trash are in some instances consumed by wildlife. The majority of this debris will go on a journey that will take it through several states and rivers before finally ending up in the Gulf of Mexico. 

GreenWorks volunteers spend a great deal of time and energy removing this pollution from the river. These devices can sit patiently in the waterway, collect trash for our volunteers to remove at their convenience. 

Locations

Town Branch, (River Arts District) Asheville NC 
Picture
Hominy Creek, Asheville NC
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Mud Creek, Hendersonville NC 
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Haw Creek, East Asheville NC
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Smith Mill Creek, Asheville NC
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Hayes Run Creek, Marshall NC
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Sponsors

Mud Creek Trash Trout
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina - Pigeon River Fund,
George and Jennifer Hodges - 
Pisgah Plants Nursery
Biltmore Iron & Metal Company
Alan's Jewelry and Pawn 
Henco North
City of Hendersonville NC

Hominy Creek Trash Trout
Annual sponsorship provided by 
Zen Tubing
Elastec
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina - Pigeon River Fund 
Pisgah Plants Nursery

Town Branch Trash Trout Jr
​Device built by: Eagle Scout Ian Sprouse of BSA Troop #91 Asheville Fence and Asheville GreenWorks
Annual sponsorship provided by: Siteworks Studios and Wedge Brewing Co
Henco North
Asheville Waste Paper
Asheville Fence

Smith Mill Creek Trash Trout Jr
​Device build by: Eagle Scout Joshua Owen of BSA Troop #58 Asheville Fence and Asheville GreenWorks

Annual sponsorship provided by: New Belgium Brewing Asheville and Southern Appalachian Anglers 
Henco North
Asheville Fence

Haw Creek Trash Trout Jr
Henco North
Asheville Fence

Hayes Run Creek Trash Trout Jr
Ivy River Partners
Sustainable Madison 
Henco North
Asheville Fence

Pole Creek Trash Trout Jr (coming soon)
Annual sponsorship provided by: Tennoca Construction Co
Henco North
Asheville Fence


​Asheville GreenWorks is a 501(c)3 non-profit environmental organization, governed by a Board of Directors. Established in 1973, GreenWorks mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize individuals and communities to take care of the places we love to live.
  • Programs
    • Bee City USA Asheville >
      • Pollinator Garden Certification
      • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
      • Pollination Celebration >
        • Pollinator Photo Contest
    • Rivers & Roads >
      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Cleanup Supply Stations
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
    • Education
    • Urban Forestry >
      • Cool Green Asheville
      • Adopt-a-Spot
      • Food Tree Project
      • RRI
      • Tree Nursery
      • Treasured Trees >
        • Treasured Trees Calendar
    • Waste Reduction >
      • Asheville Bag Monster
      • Composting Information
      • Flip Your Lid
      • Hard 2 Recycle
      • Plastics Reduction Task Force
      • Recycling Information
      • Smash Don't Trash
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Experiential Internships
    • Youth Environmental Leadership Program >
      • YELP Staff & Alumni
      • How to Apply
    • Make a Donation
    • Wish List
    • Sponsorship
  • Upcoming Events
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Job Openings
    • History
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Blog Roll
    • Latest News
    • Protect our Pollinators
    • Voice for the Trees
    • Mind Your Plastic May
    • Fall Leaves