Environment: Fall Litter Sweep In Cary
Photo from SPRUCE facebook page
Cary, NC – The Town is having their Fall Litter Sweep this Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 9-11:30 AM. You can help make the event a smashing success.
What Litter Problem?
Even the Town of Cary has a litter problem and only citizens walking the sides of the roads in volunteer groups can pick up the trash that is often thrown on our roadsides. I have participated in numerous litter sweeps and am always surprised by the sheer amount of recyclables and trash that we pick up in a 2 hour volunteer shift. Fast food containers and soda bottles top the list, but occassionally a bumper or other unusual item turns up.
The Cary Teen Council is one of the biggest groups to participate and the group requires all of its members to do at least one such event per year. Many of the high schools who have Environmental Science courses require those students to participate in these events as well.
Who Can Volunteer
Not a member of a participating organization? You can sign up with the Town as an individual volunteer by calling Sarah Justice, Conservation Specialist-Volunteer Coordinator at (919) 469-4301. Individuals and community groups are welcomed and all volunteers must be at least 15 years old or come with a guardian.
Upon registration, volunteers may select to join a Town-sponsored location or suggest a location for a new sweep. The Town provides all volunteers with the bags, gloves, safety vests, and trash grabbers.
The Fall Litter Sweep is “sprinkle” or shine.
“The Fall Litter Sweep helps the Town reach its 45 percent Waste Diversion Goal, so it’s all hands on deck to help us collect and separate recyclable materials for proper disposal,” said Sarah Justice, Conservation Specialist and Volunteer Coordinator. “Pick a spot in Cary that has special meaning to you, and have a direct impact on the beautification and environmental health of our community.”
25 Years & 10 Million Pounds of Trash
The Town of Cary’s Fall Litter Sweep is part of the Big Sweep, an award-winning non-profit which has supported litter sweeps across the state since 1987. In its 25-year history, more than 300,000 volunteers have collected over 10 million pounds of trash from roads, parks and waterways.
At the Town of Cary’s most recent sweep, 564 volunteers “swept” over 7,000 pounds of litter from the community. The Town of Cary hosts litter sweeps twice a year. The next sweep will be in the spring of 2013.
