Three small truckloads of rubbish have been cleared from the old Gore landfill exposed by the recent floods.
The floodwaters washed away the banks of the Waikaka Stream earlier this month, spilling rubbish into the water.
The Gore District Council is expected to start containing the banks early next week.
About 25 volunteers picked up three truckloads of rubbish in three hours yesterday.
The council said it cleaned up about half of what was there, with lots of plastic and rags wrapped around trees.
A containment plan has been approved by Environment Southland to dig out the banks, finishing with layers of rock, clay and geotextile on top.