River bank cleanups scheduled in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh group is launching a river cleanup to ensure the city’s three waterways look their best when world leaders arrive in September for the G-20 summit.

Rivers Month will begin next week with volunteers collecting litter along the Ohio River.

Pittsburgh is surrounded by the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers.

In the past, the waterways attracted heavy industry. But since the collapse of steel, the rivers have been turned into recreational venues with biking and walking trails lining the waters.

Pittsburgh’s convention center overlooks the rivers. The summit will be held there on Sept. 24 and 25.

The city, hard-hit by the collapse of American industry, was chosen to host the summit as a symbol of economy recovery.