Atlanta's Litter Gitter Catches Creek Trash So It Can Be Recycled

Atlanta's got a new creek cleanup partner—a floating device called the Litter Gitter that catches trash as it flows downstream, turning neighborhood collaboration into recycling wins.

• The device sits in an accessible location in the South Fork of Peachtree Creek, making it easier to collect and sort recyclables
• Local partners, including Osprey Initiative, South Fork Conservancy, and The Coca‑Cola Company, installed it together on June 10, 2025
• Collected packaging goes into the recycling process, giving your old Coke bottle or can a chance to become your next one

Creek cleanup just got smarter

Have you ever wondered where trash that is not properly disposed goes after Atlanta's next big rainstorm? It doesn't just disappear—it can find its way into waterways and travel downstream through neighborhoods, until it reaches bigger waterways.

The Litter Gitter helps change that story. It's a floating device that sits quietly in South Fork of Peachtree Creek, catching trash before it can travel further. What makes it brilliant isn't just the interception—it's how accessible the collected material becomes.

This device has been working to pull litter from Atlanta's waterways. But here's what's different: the litter then gets sorted into recyclables and non-recyclables. The Osprey Initiative, creators of the Litter Gitter, step in to clean the device and can easily separate recyclable bottles and cans from general trash, turning what used to be just a cleanup into material recovery. After sorting, Osprey Initiative sends PET bottles and aluminum cans to a Material Recovery Facility, or MRF, to continue the recycling process. So the bottle or can doesn't just get cleaned up—it then gets a chance at a second life.

The Group Behind It

Installing the Litter Gitter took a neighborhood effort. Osprey Initiative handled the technical setup and maintain the device. They also track exactly what gets collected, creating data that helps guide future strategies.

South Fork Conservancy hosted the installation and connects the community with efforts to support the creek.

The Coca‑Cola Company, Coca‑Cola Bottling Company UNITED and the Georgia Beverage Association all also had representatives in attendance at installation. These organizations helped make the implementation of the device possible and help support the recycling infrastructure that makes bottle-to-bottle recycling possible.

Ready to get your hands dirty?

Here's how you can jump in:

Sign up for volunteer cleanups with South Fork Conservancy or other local organizations. These aren't just feel-good events—you'll help to make a real impact on your community.

Connect with local partners to multiply your impact. Every volunteer, every sorted bottle, every shared cleanup story helps build momentum for cleaner waterways and more effective recycling.