Watertown has multiple ways to help out for Earth Day in 2026, including a recycling event where you can get compost and a tree, and Charles River cleanups. See details below.
Watertown DPW Hosting Earth Day Event
Watertown Public Works will be hosting an Earth Day Event on Saturday April 11, 2026, from 9:00am – 1:00pm at the Jewish Community Day School Parking Lot – 57 Stanley Ave., for Watertown residents only (bring your ID).The event includes paper shredding, subsidized mattress collection ($25/mattress drop off vs the usual $50 for pickup), textile collection, Styrofoam collection, Black Earth Compost’s Compost/Soil and a tree sapling giveaway. More information will be available closer to the event.
Rep. Steve Owens’ Annual Earth Day River Cleanup 4/25
For the sixth year in a row, my office will be sponsoring an Earth Day Cleanup in cooperation with the Charles River Conservancy. Please join me on Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Marsh Post 442 (5 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge) to help pick up trash along the Charles River between the Eliot Bridge and Grove St along Greenough Blvd. Last year, we had nearly 50 volunteers despite the rain and prevented about 45 full contractor bags of waste from getting into the river. Bags and gloves will be provided as needed. Sign up to volunteer here.
Sen. Will Brownsberger Hosting Charles River Cleanup, April 25
On Saturday, April 25from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., join Senator Brownsberger and staff as we pick up trash along the shores of the Charles River Greenway along Greenough Boulevard in Watertown.
This is a new location, different from where we’ve been in recent years.
Learn more and sign up to volunteer
Chamber Hosting Charles River Cleanup
Friday, April. 24, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Community Rowing. 20 Nonantum Rd, Brighton/Watertown
Free, open to members and nonmembers
Kick off Earth Week by getting outdoors and giving back to our local community! We’re rallying a crew to join the Charles River Watershed Association for their 28th Annual Charles River Cleanup. This year, we’ll be returning near Community Rowing Inc. and Daly Field to tackle trash pickup and trail maintenance along one of our favorite stretches of the river. The cleanup runs Friday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Gloves, bags, and all supplies will be provided — plus lunch afterward to celebrate a job well done! Space is limited, so pre-registration is required.
The Earth Day Charles River Cleanup builds on a national effort as part of American Rivers’ National River Cleanup®, which has removed over 25 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways. Organized by the Charles River Watershed Association, the cleanup brings together over 3,000 volunteers each year to pick up litter, remove invasive species, and assist with park maintenance along all 80 miles of the Charles River.
If you know of more events, put the information in the comment section below, or send an email to watertownmanews@gmail.com