MEBANE, N.C. — Haw River Assembly is working to install four new trash trouts to help reduce pollution in North Carolina waterways. 

Volunteers joined the group in Mebane to build the devices using recycled materials. 

Events and volunteer coordinator for Haw River Assembly, Hannah Walborne Lewis, says the previous versions of the trap cost about $10,000 each, but now using recyclables, she says these new models will only cost around $500. 

“Now that we are going to recreate them, we can have more of these. So that, more volunteers and more community attention. So we are just really thankful that we can repurpose fencing and other materials for this,” Lewis said.

She says the trouts are being funded through an Environmental Enhancement grant. 

The four new devices will go to Durham, Chapel Hill, Pittsboro and Burlington.

Lewis says she hopes the more affordable traps will make the process more accessible to the cities that need them.

"We want to make sure we are protecting our water quality and empowering citizens to take matters into their own hands and advocate for the things they are passionate about,” she explains. 

Durham, Greensboro, Carrboro, Winston Salem and Asheville all have at least one trash trout in place.