The Litter Gitter

Osprey Initiative, LLC is an environmental contractor providing tailored solutions to the global challenge of litter in our waters. Their mission is to bridge the gap between intent and action in the sustainability world by bringing and implementing realistic solutions to clients, partners and communities.

Osprey is the owner of the Litter Gitter, a patented small stream litter collection device used to intercept floating litter from stormwater runoff. Intial tests indicate an 80+% success rate in preventing the downstream loss of floating litter. Osprey handles all aspects of installing and maintaining the Litter Gitter. Litter is separated from vegetative debris and recyclables are separated from the regular trash.

As litter or debris floats down the waterway, it encounters the floating boom system, which is anchored in the embankment and attached to the Litter Gitter device. As litter hits these booms, the litter flows naturally into the trap where it waits until it is removed by the Osprey field crews for sorting, recycling, and data collection. The data from the captured litter provides a litter profile for each watershed that can be used to inform, develop, and implement source-targeted solutions. Data collection can be tailored to the specific requirements for a particular project, study, or grant. Quantities are recorded and results are reported on a quarterly basis for inclusion in MS4 reporting if needed.

Osprey Initiative heavily emphasizes an approach that is low-tech, high-touch, and environmentally-friendly. They utilize kayaks, rubber waders, shallow draft mud boats, and a hands-on team, to remove harmful litter from the environment without negatively impacting the natural landscape and habitats. Osprey's goal is to manufacture the Litter Gitters using the aluminum collected by their river cleanup efforts. 

Another specialty service includes tactical cleanups of small and shallow waterways. Their methods range from walking in hip boots to canoes/kayaks to shallow draft mudboats to skiffs. Their cleanups are focused on causing a minimal impact to the natural environment and simple methods, even if they require some additional labor. They also provide safety and logistical support to community-based clean-ups.

The company recently launched a product line that includes the Trash Stash, a wired cube or tower that securely stores litter you may find along your route. This product is designed to fit anywhere; secure them in the back of a truck bed, attached to a bike, or in a boat (motorized or not). They closed with a secured bungee cord, so it's always easy to throw litter right in, but secure enough to keep it there until it's time to empty. With every purchase of an Osprey product, 10% of the gross revenue goes right back into funding litter clean-ups.

Whether they are deploying a Litter Gitter or conducting a systematic cleanup of a particular watershed, Osprey wants to leave an impact of environmental positivity and displays that passion in all facets of their company.  This solution is unique in that it aims to capture litter further upstream and closer to source points and can be affordably scaled to deploy several devices at key intercept locations on shallow waters and unique river bends. 

If there is a river or shallow body of water near you flooded with litter, contact the Osprey team about installing and managing a Litter Gitter! Currently cleaning up several rivers across the Southeast United States, this team continues to grow with new partnerships. As of April 2020, Osprey Initiative has 30 Litter Gitters in 11 watersheds, with more to come in the Summer of 2020. Learn more about where the Litter Gitter is cleaning by viewing the linked newsletters and website.