Volunteers collect 1,769 pounds of trash from local waterways

Press release, Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District

ALBION – This past Saturday 15 volunteers from Orleans County participated in the American Littoral Society’s annual New York State Shoreline and Beach Cleanup.

These volunteers collected, recorded and removed more than 900 items of trash weighing 1,769 pounds from our local waterways over the course of three hours. That equates to more than 61 pounds per person.

The enthusiastic volunteers convened at 9 a.m. at Bullard Park for instructions and introductions before dispersing to assigned locations.

Groups tackled trash at locations along Lake Alice and the Erie Canal. At noon everyone reconvened back at Bullard Park to weigh the 17 bags of trash collected along with various items such as a rug and over 20 discarded tires.

Every item collected, down to the last cigarette butt, was recorded and categorized on data sheets that were then sent to the American Littoral Society for statistical analysis along with data submitted by all the groups participating across the country. This allows them to observe and track trends in sources of trash. In Orleans County, over half of the items collected were from food and beverage items.

Along with concerned citizens, volunteers participating in the cleanup represented 4-H and local high school students. This event was sponsored locally by the Orleans County Water Quality Coordinating Committee in conjunction with the Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District.