Montpelier council honors volunteer 'Trash Tramps' for decade of river‑cleaning and cigarette‑butt recycling

The Montpelier City Council adopted a resolution Aug. 26 honoring the volunteer group known as the Trash Tramps for 10 years of weekly litter pickups that the resolution says have removed an estimated one million cigarette butts and helped keep city streets and riverways cleaner.

Why it matters: Volunteer cleanup groups reduce municipal maintenance burdens, demonstrate community stewardship and can influence local environmental outcomes such as river pollution from cigarette filters and roadside litter.

Members of the Trash Tramps described their activities to council, including weekly Tuesday cleanups, grant support from the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District that helped them buy safety vests and tongs, and successful community outreach such as a contest that funded cigarette receptacles. Council adopted a resolution drafted by the mayor that recognizes the volunteers’ service and thanks the core organizers by name.

Ending: The council presented the resolution and urged the volunteers to continue their work with the city’s thanks.