STARLIGHT, Pa. – Volunteers pulled 102 tires, a dumpster full of trash and a trailer loaded with scrap metal from the Delaware River this past weekend during the ninth annual “Get Trashed in the Catskills.”

More than 80 people turned out for the cleanup, which this year focused on the Main Stem from Shehawken to Buckingham. Organizers said the route was last floated four years ago, when some volunteers dropped pins on debris they couldn’t manage at the time. This year, they returned with more people to tackle those items, hauling out a tractor tire and even a riding mower in addition to dozens of smaller objects.

“About half of the volunteers don’t even fish and came from downstate or New Jersey just to be part of something fun and feel good, so you don’t need to be a fly fisher to get involved,” said Chris Calabrese of Housefly Fishing.

The Delaware River Club has hosted the event locally since its inception, serving as the meeting point before volunteers head out on the river.

Looking ahead, organizers hope to expand the effort to the lower East Branch of the Delaware River, though limited access points remain a challenge. They suggested that property owners interested in supporting the effort could help by offering their land as a launch or take-out site.

Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of “Get Trashed in the Catskills.” The 2026 cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, August 15 at the Delaware River Club.