Upcoming Events

Aug

21

Plastic Free on the Mississippi

Join us on the Mississippi River for Plastic Free on the Mississippi: Science, Solutions & Celebration.

Register Here

Aug

27

One Water Missouri on the Barge: Clarifying Nutrient Pollution

Join us on the Mississippi River for a full-day workshop focused on nutrient pollution challenges and solutions in Missouri’s waterways.

Register Here

Aug

28
29

Bull Float trip

MACFA is once again sponsoring the Annual Bull Float Trip, bringing can-only recycling to one of the Ozarks’ biggest summer traditions.

Learn More

Sep

28

MidAmerica Circularity Social

MACFA is partnering with CircularSTL, NRC, and Race to Zero Waste at SWANA’s RCon™ this September for a full-day Circularity Forum.

Oct

13
14

Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiative Annual Meeting

MACFA will present at the 2026 Illinois River Cities Annual Meeting, sharing insights on plastic pollution in rivers and waterways and the actions communities can take to reduce it.

Register Here

Nov

14

BYOBag Day

Join us on November 14th for BYOBag Day, a regional effort to cut down on single-use plastic bags and promote simple, everyday actions that protect our communities and waterways.

Register Here

August 21 - Plastic Free on the Mississippi

Join us on the Mississippi River for Plastic Free on the Mississippi: Science, Solutions & Celebration, an afternoon centered on learning, action, and community. The event features a conversation on plastic pollution, a screening of *Plastic Detox*, and a solutions-focused social hour that brings people together around practical ways to reduce plastic waste.

Guests should RSVP here:

https://forms.gle/nS9vfrtAubxjvjhg9](https://forms.gle/nS9vfrtAubxjvjhg9

As the evening continues, attendees are invited to enjoy the Flotsam River Circus, a floating, free-to-watch performance of music, acrobatics, and river artistry presented from a handmade raft. Together, the program offers a blend of science, creativity, and celebration along the St. Louis riverfront.

About the Event:

The gathering takes place at 50 S Leonor K Sullivan Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63102, directly on the riverfront. Parking is available for a $10 fee at the payment booth located at 601 S Leonor K Sullivan Blvd. After paying, guests can continue north to the riverfront parking area at 50 S Leonor K Sullivan, situated on a slanted cobblestone surface.

Attendees should bring a reusable water bottle as no cups will be provided. 

Drinks and snacks will be available, including both alcoholic and non‑alcoholic beverage options.

For those staying for the Flotsam River Circus, the viewing area is located a short 5–10 minute walk north at 446 N Leonor K Sullivan Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63102. No seating, beverages, or snacks are provided at the circus site, so guests may wish to bring anything they need for comfort. The performance begins at 6:30 PM.

Learn More:

Flotsam River Circus
The Plastic Detox

Event Organizers: 

For more information about the organizers:
midamericacleanfuturealliance.org
mogreenfuture.com
beyondplastics.org
livinglandsandwaters.org
streamteamsunited.org
onestl.org

August 27 - One Water Missouri on the Barge: Clarifying Nutrient Pollution

MACFA is proud to serve as both a partner and a presenter for this special floating-classroom experience on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Join us on the Mississippi River for a full-day workshop focused on nutrient pollution challenges and solutions in Missouri’s waterways.

This hands-on session brings together practitioners, regulators, and environmental advocates to build shared understanding and identify actionable strategies to improve water quality across the state.

Tickets are $25 per person and include lunch and barge access.

Link to register and for more information about the event

Link for more information about the project

Partners: 

August 28 - 29 - Bull Float trip

https://bullfloat.ozarkoutdoorsresort.com/#about

MACFA is once again sponsoring the  Annual Bull Float Trip, bringing can-only recycling to one of the Ozarks’ biggest summer traditions. Last year, attendees helped us collect more than 30,000 aluminum cans along the Meramec River, and we’re aiming even higher this year. With thousands of floaters, campers, and country-music fans coming together, MACFA is making it easy to keep the river clean and the cans in the recycling stream. Float all day, party all night, recycle every can.  

Here’s a link to a cute video from last year: https://youtube.com/shorts/7yDET7ATrrA?si=Wa8ewDOB1T543d0p

September 28 - MidAmerica Circularity Social

MACFA is partnering with CircularSTL, NRC, and Race to Zero Waste at SWANA’s RCon™ this September for a full-day Circularity Forum. As part of the program, MACFA will lead a two-hour education block focused on strengthening local recycling systems and preparing communities for emerging producer-responsible policies.

Building Local Recycling Strength Today and Preparing for Tomorrow’s Policy Landscape  
September 28, 2026 • 2:20–7:00 PM • St. Louis, MO

Local governments, MRF operators, haulers, and producers will explore practical actions cities can take now, model policies and contracts, and the evolving national policy landscape.

The program includes two sessions:
• Local Levers for Change: Immediate steps communities can take to improve recycling performance, featuring insights from Dr. Jenna Jambeck and a panel of local and industry experts.
• EPR Policy Pathways: A clear overview of EPR models, municipal impacts, and national policy direction.

MACFA will host a networking reception to bring together leaders across sectors for deeper collaboration and conversation.

October 13 - 14 - Illinois River Cities and Towns Initiative Annual Meeting

MACFA will present at the 2026 Illinois River Cities Annual Meeting, sharing insights on plastic pollution in rivers and waterways and the actions communities can take to reduce it. Executive Director Jennifer Wendt will discuss how plastics move through river systems, the impacts on local ecosystems and communities, and practical strategies for prevention, policy, and upstream solutions. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the challenges facing MidAmerica waterways and the tools available to protect them.

Link to IRCTI event page: https://illinoisrivercities.org/2026-annual-meeting-registration/

November 14 - BYOBag Day

Join us on November 14th for BYOBag Day, a regional effort to cut down on single-use plastic bags and promote simple, everyday actions that protect our communities and waterways.

Globally, an estimated 2 million plastic bags are used every minute. Each one is typically used for only 12–25 minutes, yet can take hundreds of years to break down — often becoming litter in streets, storm drains, creeks, and rivers. Plastic bags are among the most common items found in environmental cleanups, and they pose long-term risks to wildlife, water quality, and local infrastructure.

Switching to reusable bags is one of the easiest ways to make a meaningful impact. Each reusable bag can eliminate hundreds to thousands of single-use plastic bags, reducing waste at the source and keeping harmful plastics out of our waterways.

On BYOBag Day, stores and business districts across the region will encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags, helping everyone be part of the solution. 

To get involved, Click Here!