OPIRG Guelph and the Wellington Water Watchers teamed up for the 38th annual 2Rivers Cleanup on Saturday.
Meeting in Royal City Park, roughly 75 people then headed out to various sections along the Speed and Eramosa rivers to do their part to help keep the natural habitat clean by picking up garbage.
A local Scout troop took to the river in canoes to haul as much junk out as they could.
Those taking part ranged from an older couple who just moved to the city and were looking to get involved in its environmental stewardship to young families looking to teach little children the importance of protecting the environment.
The 2Rivers Cleanup is part of the 2Rivers Festival.
"It has been a gathering place for many people across the centuries," said OPIRG's Brad Evoy in his opening remarks to the group.
"It is indigenous people who have served as stewards of this land and stewards of these waters her for time eternal. Water has been our life and our lifeblood for centuries.
"We have to respect the peoples of this land that we currently occupy. "In this process of cleaning up this river and working to sustain this place we have to remind ourselves that we are continuing broader traditions of stewardship of this land that people have carried out since this place has existed."
