Conservation & Ecology

Lake Havasu Marine Association Trash Bag Program: Preserving Our Waters, Protecting Our Future

​The Lake Havasu Marine Association (LHMA) is committed to preserving the natural beauty of Lake Havasu City and the Colorado River, and one of our flagship initiatives is the Trash Bag Program. This community-driven effort encourages boaters, campers, and all visitors to help protect the environment by keeping our beaches and waters clean.

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How the Program Works

With the support of local businesses and organizations, we provide convenient, complimentary trash bags at 95 post locations across popular lake and river areas.  Thanks to the generous sponsorship of local businesses like Campbell Cove 1 Stop, Havasu Hardware, Lake Havasu City Rotary, and London Bridge Resort — to name just a few—the Trash Bag Program operates year-round.  These bags are readily available to all visitors, giving everyone a simple way to collect their trash and leave no trace. Whether you're spending the day on the water or camping along the beautiful shores, the Trash Bag Program offers you a responsible way to manage waste and help protect the environment for future generations.

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Every year, these sponsors renew their commitment to the program, allowing us to distribute thousands of trash bags that help keep our shorelines and waters pristine. By offering complimentary trash bags, this program makes it easier for visitors to be good stewards of the environment, ensuring that everyone who enjoys Lake Havasu and the Colorado River can help in preserving its natural beauty. Whether you're spending the day on the water or camping along the shores, these bags give you a responsible way to manage your waste and keep our environment clean.

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Each of these bags has the capacity to hold 6 cubic feet of waste. If every bag were filled to the brim, that would represent 900,000 cubic feet of waste collected and properly disposed of. However, even a more conservative estimate—assuming two-thirds capacity per bag—totals an impressive 600,000 cubic feet of waste removed from our shores and waters each year. This enormous impact contributes directly to preserving the pristine condition of our lake and river for all to enjoy.

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Impact and Reach

The LHMA Trash Bag Program distributes a remarkable 150,000 trash bags annually, ensuring that visitors have the tools they need to keep our natural surroundings clean. These posts and bags stretch as far north as Needles and as far south as Parker, covering a vast area of the river and lake. Additionally, we are actively exploring new partnerships that would allow the program to expand further, reaching Bullhead City and increasing distribution to 200,000 trash bags.​

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The Trash Bag Program not only fosters a sense of environmental responsibility but also strengthens our community partnerships. Each trash bag proudly displays the names of our sponsors, reminding lake-goers that local businesses are actively contributing to maintaining a clean and safe environment for all.

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Together, we can make a difference. Next time you visit Lake Havasu City, be sure to grab a bag, pack your trash, and help protect the waters that we all love. Thank you to our sponsors and the community for supporting this initiative and helping us keep Lake Havasu clean for generations to come!​