The Gulf Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Gulf Coast, has mobilized approximately 1,000 volunteers to remove over 63,000 pounds of trash from waterways across Texas in 2026. The cleanup efforts, part of the organization’s Trash Free Gulf initiative, took place during April and May at more than 40 sites statewide, ranging from Amarillo in the north to the Rio Grande Valley in the south. Notable sites included the West Fork of the Trinity River in Fort Worth, where 52 volunteers collected nearly 750 pounds of debris on May 9.

Founded in 2023 by environmental specialists, the Gulf Trust combines scientific research with public policy guidance to promote conservation and stewardship of the Gulf Coast. The Trash Free Gulf initiative aims to demonstrate that individuals throughout Texas can play a vital role in reducing the amount of litter that ultimately reaches coastal waters. Entering 2026, the organization set a target to collect at least 45,000 pounds of trash from major rivers and lakes, exceeding that goal by year’s end.

“Litter and plastic pollution is a significant global challenge,” said Jay Kleberg, executive director of the Gulf Trust. He emphasized that even smaller-scale cleanups like the Fort Worth event help to reduce the volume of trash entering local waterways, which eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Kleberg noted that behavioral changes supported by education and awareness are essential to addressing the problem.

Data gathered during the cleanups reveals that between 80 and 90 percent of the collected waste consists of plastic materials or items containing plastic chemicals. The persistence of plastic in the environment—taking between 100 to 1,000 years to decompose—poses serious risks to wildlife and human health, Kleberg explained. Wildlife such as turtles can mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion and harm. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 1,500 marine and terrestrial species are known to consume plastic materials. Additionally, plastics can release carcinogenic chemicals into water sources, potentially causing developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders in humans.

The Gulf Trust’s Trash Free Gulf initiative was launched in 2025 with a state-wide cleanup that removed 34,000 pounds of trash across 45 events. This year, the group has also focused on better quantifying the types and volumes of litter collected. Part of their goals included removing 6,000 plastic bottles to limit pollution. The cleanup campaign is expected to conclude by the end of June.