City begins Kalamazoo River clean-up where trash from homeless encampment was found

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Clean-up efforts on the Kalamazoo River have begun, as the city has hired contractors to work in an area where a large amount of trash was discovered near a homeless encampment.

The Kalamazoo River Alliance says that clean-up along the river near Mills St. started Wednesday and will involve other sites as well. Another contractor will work specifically on cleaning up hazardous materials in the area.

The local group, trying to raise awareness in the community about the poor condition of the river in general, had announced a clean-up event scheduled for Saturday, June 5th at Verburg Park. Kalamazoo city officials have thrown their support behind the event and will reportedly help with things like dumpsters, personnel to pick up trash piles, and providing other potential access points to the river.