Reno River Cleanup Runs on 5,306 Volunteers and a Year-Round System
A river cleanup in Reno begins with a volunteer and a trash bag. Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful supplies the larger machinery: recurring sites, tools, education, and a network that mobilized 5,306 volunteers in 2024–25.
Executive Director Darcy Phillips, a native Coloradan who adopted Nevada in 2013, leads Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful’s year-round cleanup work across Reno, Sparks, and the Truckee Meadows. In 2024–25, 5,306 volunteers joined that work.
Cleanup work spans Reno, Sparks, and the Truckee Meadows. KTMB works with the City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Washoe County to support cleanup work across the region. KTMB was founded in 1989 by the Biggest Little City Committee as Western Nevada Clean Communities.
How to support river cleanup in Reno, NV year-round
KTMB makes showing up easier. Its Community Clean-Up Program lets a business or group organize a one-time cleanup in a public park, open space, or river site, while KTMB provides tools and supplies. Groups choose the site and organize the volunteers.
For people ready to make a longer commitment, Adopt-A-Spot connects businesses and community groups with a park, open space, or location along the Truckee River for ongoing cleanups. The annual Great Community Cleanup covers illegal dump sites, noxious weeds, trash, and beautification projects across the Truckee Meadows.
KTMB also carries its waste-reduction work into homes through Christmas Tree Recycling, turning collected trees into mulch instead of sending them to the landfill or desert dumping grounds.
The annual Truckee River Cleanup brings KTMB, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, and Washoe County together along the corridor and its tributaries.
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KTMB removed 81 tons of waste in 2024–25
The 2024–25 annual report says those volunteers removed 81 tons of waste and 75.3 tons of green waste. It also reported recycling 7,653 Christmas trees during the same period.
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful
Fund the gear, the snacks, and the next crew
KTMB currently lists raffle prizes, snacks for volunteers, and equipment and items for cleanups and events among its needs. Those supplies help groups organize one-time cleanups and keep Adopt-A-Spot sites active year-round.
Choose a listed need—raffle prizes, snacks for volunteers, or equipment and items for cleanups and events—or organize a one-time cleanup or Adopt-A-Spot project.
Frequently asked questions
- How can I support Truckee River cleanup in Reno?
- You can volunteer through KTMB’s annual Truckee River Cleanup, organize a group cleanup, or adopt a recurring cleanup location along the river through Adopt-A-Spot.
- What does Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful do?
- KTMB coordinates community cleanups, recurring Adopt-A-Spot stewardship, the Great Community Cleanup, Truckee River Cleanup, Christmas Tree Recycling, waste-reduction efforts, and environmental education across Reno, Sparks, and the Truckee Meadows.
- How many volunteers does KTMB work with?
- KTMB’s 2024–25 annual report lists 5,306 volunteers participating in its cleanup work.
- What does a donation to KTMB support?
- Donations support community cleanups, environmental education, waste-reduction efforts, and Christmas Tree Recycling. KTMB also currently needs cleanup equipment and event items, volunteer snacks, and raffle prizes.
- KTMB Raise the River Fundraiser | Support Truckee River Cleanups & Keep Reno Beautiful | Community | 2news.com - KTVN — KTVN ↗
- Tickets on sale for KTMB’s 11th annual Raise the River fundraiser - KOLO | 8 News Now — KOLO | 8 News Now ↗
- 788 volunteers join KTMB Great Community Cleanup across Reno-Sparks region — foxreno.com ↗
- KTMB collects 273 tons of trash in Great Community Cleanup — 2news.com ↗
- KTMB looking for volunteers for next Great Community Cleanup — msn.com ↗
- ktmb.org ↗
- Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful reported 5,306 volunteers in 2024–25, providing the strongest evidence that its cleanup work operates at regional scale rather than as a one-day photo opportunity.
- KTMB’s 2024–25 annual-report data records 81 tons of waste removed and 75.3 tons of green waste processed or removed.
- Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that serves Reno, Sparks, and the broader Truckee Meadows through waste reduction, education, and community involvement.
- KTMB’s operating model includes Adopt-A-Spot, one-time Community Clean-Up projects, the annual Great Community Cleanup, and the Truckee River Cleanup.