An official website of the United States government.

This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2021. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

Trash-Free Waters

Newsletter: The Flow of Trash Free Waters

Stay informed about the latest news from the Trash Free Waters program and our program partners with our electronic newsletter!

Image of the newsletter 'The flow of trash free water'The Trash Free Waters program distributes ‘The Flow’ electronically to our many project partners and other interested stakeholders.

‘The Flow’ highlights important work that is happening at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Each issue is packed with information on current activities, upcoming events, and project funding opportunities related to trash prevention and reduction.

Recent Issues

You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters - May 2020 (PDF)(7 pp, 4 MB, May 2020, EPA-842-N-18-003)
    Administrator Wheeler's visit to Brazil; update on the "Community Cans" project in Philadelphia; expansion of the Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot tool; various cleanup events and conferences; announcing the monthly TFW "Rapids" email; upcoming webinars and funding opportunities!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters - October 2019 (PDF)(8 pp, 4 MB, October 2019, EPA-842-N-19-002)
    Two new Trash Free Waters grants programs; Trash capture in Proctor Creek; Various regional anti-littering campaigns; Mobile Bay NEP Watershed Planning; Latin American Trash Free Waters Initiative update; plus The Rapids, upcoming conferences, funding opportunities and more!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters - May 2019 (PDF)(9 pp, 4 MB, May 2019, EPA-842-N-19-001)
    Administrator Wheeler's remarks on marine litter; Microplastics research; Recycle Across America; Trash capture in Mobile and Atlanta; Mississippi Sound; Gulf of Mexico nurdles; Disaster debris planning; Data collection apps; The Rapids - events, grant opportunities and more!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters - December 2018 (PDF)(8 pp, 1 MB, December 7, 2018, EPA-842-N-18-004)
    International Trash Free Waters; G7 Nations and Plastic Innovation Challenge; Microplastics Research in Sediment; Restaurant Source Reduction; Mexico Bag Ordinance; Environmental Justice; Messaging; Hydration Stations; Tourism; Our Ocean Conference; plus funding, events, and more!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters - June 2018 (PDF)(7 pp, 2 MB, June 2018, EPA-842-N-18-003)
    The 6th International Marine Debris Conference; microplastics and corals in the Caribbean; San Juan Bay Estuary Program hurricane follow-up; tribes dealing with marine debris; expanding the trash free trinity; TFW Summit in Baltimore, MD; PLANing for Environmental Justice; plus news, events, funding opportunities, conferences, and more!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters – January 2018 (PDF)(6 pp, 2 MB, January 2018, EPA-842-N-18-001)
    Microplastics research; hurricane recovery in Puerto Rico; fishing line collection and recycling; Washington DC Trash Summit; regional strategy to address balloon release litter; TFW workshop in Panama; environmental justice grants to tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest; plus news, events, funding opportunities, conferences, and more!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters – August 2017 (PDF)(8 pp, 1 MB, 08/09/2017, EPA-842-N-17-003)
    Get featured in the National Great Practices Compendium, grassroots conservation group and two new skimmer boats work to protect the Anacostia River, Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Free Rivers, Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body (RPB) public meetings, partnering with the Urban Waters and National Estuary Programs, Trash Free Trinity River, news, events, funding opportunities, conferences, contests, and more!
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters – November 2016 (PDF)(7 pp, 1 MB, November 2016, EPA-842-N-16-002A)
    Ocean conference III, microplastics, Peru, Peace Corps, Urban Waters Initiative, Galveston, Baltimore, Puerto Rico, grant opportunities, student contests, trash, litter, and more.
  • The Flow of Trash Free Waters – July 2016 (PDF)(6 pp, 617 K, July 2016, EPA-842-N-14-005)
    National Workshop, 'Aguas Sin Basura' in Panama, Improved Website, NYC B.Y.O. Bag Bill, Trash Free Trinity River Basin, TFW in Puerto Rico, Aquatic Trash Prevention Great Practices, Gulf States Litter Control Policies and Programs