During these times when crowded indoor environments pose a certain amount of risk, more and more people are taking to the outdoors to enjoy boating, paddling, biking, hiking and fishing.
But there is another outdoor activity we can safely engage in — cleaning up those natural areas we love, whether it is a neighborhood, local park, riverfront or beach. Clean-ups can be done solo, but small groups can also be organized to tackle problem areas, as long as safe distancing guidelines are followed.
At Apalachicola Riverkeeper, we have expanded our adopt-a-riverfront program, where small organized volunteer groups clean up riverfront parks, ramps, gathering places and stretches of river. We also assist with the larger Franklin County Coastal Cleanup, which this year will be held Sept. 12.
There is something special about working with others for a common good and the satisfaction of stepping back afterwards and scanning eyes over a trash-free waterfront view. As one clean-up participant observed, “Who knew garbage pickup could be so fun?”
Besides the visual improvements trash cleanups bring, removing trash from the environment helps to protect creatures from being trapped inside containers or consuming items such as plastic that can cause serious injury or death. In the case of trash along a riverfront, much of the garbage can be washed into the water during flood stages and ultimately carried into marine environments, posing a risk to animals such as sea turtles.
A common item found on clean-ups are cigarette butts. They do not biodegrade and can last in a water body for up to 25 years. They can create toxic conditions for fish and are sometimes eaten by birds, so please pick them up. Fishing lines are another hazard. They can be ingested by birds and can entangle birds, fish and other marine mammals.
Styrofoam and plastics never go away; they only get smaller and smaller and can be ingested by birds, turtles and marine mammals, acting like plankton floating in our waterways. They are not digested by aquatic life and can eventually cause death.
A common item found along freshwater waterways are discarded blue or white plastic bait cups, pointing to a need for more dealers to distribute biodegradable bait cups that are readily available on the market.
Some simple guidelines can be followed for organized trash clean-ups.
First, preliminary scouting is important to identify the clean-up boundaries, priority areas and any hazardous spots to avoid. Organizers should be prepared to bring extra trash bags and trash pickers along with a water jug and first-aid kit.
The resource manager of the site should be contacted to determine the best location to leave filled trash bags and other garbage. Participants should be instructed to bring gloves, trash pickers, sunscreen, insect repellent, masks and a refillable water container.
As people begin arriving at the site, outline the clean-up plan, the importance of the work, and do a brief safety talk before sending them on their way. Initially, everyone should wear masks in case they drift within six feet of each other. Most clean-ups are best if they last under two hours during summer months.
Broken glass and other sharp objects should be carefully picked up and placed in a separate container because they can tear through and break a trash bag and can cause injury. They are best placed in a box.
For discarded tires, kick them before handling in case any creatures are living inside. Tires are disposed of separately from the rest of the trash. Avoid stepping into areas with thick tall grass in case critters are present. When someone has filled a bag, it should be tied tightly and brought to a central pick-up location. Biodegradable items such as tree limbs should be stacked separately from human-caused trash.
By following practical and safe practices, cleanups can be fun and rewarding and can promote a conservation ethic, perhaps hastening the day when trash cleanups will no longer be necessary!
More information about the Franklin County Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 12 can be found here: https://ift.tt/3hLkMjM.
Doug Alderson is the outreach & advocacy director for Apalachicola Riverkeeper and the author of several books about natural history, history and outdoor recreation.
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How to help
What: Franklin County Coastal Cleanup
When: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Sept. 12
Where: Locations include Apalachicola, Bald Point, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Lanark and St. George Island
Details: Visit ApalachicolaRiverkeeper.org.
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Cleaning our natural areas is a safe, rewarding pandemic activity - Tallahassee Democrat
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