Richmond Business Community Clears Over 3,000 Lbs of Trash from Richmond Shorelines

Richmond, BC – On the morning of Saturday, September 12^th, Richmond business community members rolled up their sleeves and got to work, clearing trash and debris from two locations: Nelson Road Beach and River Road Shoreline.

The Shoreline Clean-up, organized in partnership by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Platinum Pro-Claim Restoration, and 505-Junk, brought the community together to protect the environment, raise awareness, and help preserve the natural beauty of Richmond’s coastline by keeping debris out of our waterways.

“Ten years in, PPCR has seen the annual Shoreline Cleanup grow from a handful of us with garbage bags into a real community effort, with close to 40,000 lbs of debris pulled off Richmond's shores and hundreds of volunteers engaged along the way,” said Jamie Madill, Executive Director of Sustainability & Purpose at Platinum Pro-Claim Restoration. “This year alone, we collected 3,385 lbs of debris, which is an incredible reminder of what we can accomplish together. The real credit goes to every volunteer and to partners like the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and 505-Junk who keep showing up year after year. This is what happens when a community decides to look after the place it lives, and we are grateful to be part of it.”

Scott Foran, President of 505-Junk, added, “what made 2026 special wasn't how much we hauled away, it was how little. We saw close to a 50% drop in the waste volume pulled from Richmond's shorelines compared to past years, and that's the real success story. Less trash means the awareness is working, and it means people are being more intentional about the impact they leave behind. Getting to show up for the community that shows up for us all year is a privilege. Huge thanks to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and Platinum Pro Claim Restoration for the years of partnership that keep our shorelines cleaner.”

Chamber President & CEO, Shaena Furlong, says, “the Chamber hosts about 60 events a year, but this is one of my favourites. This year we broke a record for volunteers - 115 members of the Richmond business community spent their Saturday getting dirty and taking trash off our riverbeds. It was really inspiring to see so many folks bring out their teams and their families, passing this tradition on to the next generation. It's clear this is a community that really cares.”

Some of the finds included shopping carts, a rusted deep freezer, a discarded sink, and more. This significant achievement was made possible by the dedication of over 100 volunteers and community partners. The event was sponsored by EcoWaste and supported by the City of Richmond Environmental Enhancement Grant.

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The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is a broad-based non-profit membership association, celebrating over 100 years of commitment to make Richmond the most prosperous and favourable place to do business.