I live in a very rural part of eastern NC that sits on the banks of the Neuse River. The Neuse Riverkeeper does a great job, but the litter along our highways is daunting. I see it every time I cycle outside our town limits.
I periodically ask myself why people air mail their garbage while traveling at 55 mph. Is it laziness? Is it the lack of convenient trash receptacles? Or, is it resentment that someone expects them to conform to a specific community standard? One person told me they are providing jobs for the cleanup crews!
But, I wonder what the woman was thinking when she tossed her padded bra. It's not the 1960's when going braless was a political statement. I guess it could have malfunctioned on her way to work and she wanted to hide that fact from a parking lot attendant. Then I realized we no longer have attendants in parking lots.
Fortunately for us, and our Riverkeeper, most of the local highway litter stays put until the cleanup crews do their job. Once a year the RK organizes a fisherman led cleanup of the Neuse riverbanks. Amazing how much litter comes downstream from Raleigh. And, how impassioned are those fishermen to keep their workplace clean.
Thanks Pam for sharing our story. I’m often asked how I can keep leading these cleanups – how it doesn’t get to me. It’s because of the volunteers – the awareness I see come over them. Most come back time and time again.
I thought you might like to see these hard stats. 2021 we removed 63 Tons and last year we removed just over 59 Tons. It's sad that littering still exists, it's heartwarming to see so many get out to help.
Hope to see you and your husband on another cleanup. We host 1-2 per month open to the public. And we plan private service projects for companies – which has become really popular.
I live in a very rural part of eastern NC that sits on the banks of the Neuse River. The Neuse Riverkeeper does a great job, but the litter along our highways is daunting. I see it every time I cycle outside our town limits.
I periodically ask myself why people air mail their garbage while traveling at 55 mph. Is it laziness? Is it the lack of convenient trash receptacles? Or, is it resentment that someone expects them to conform to a specific community standard? One person told me they are providing jobs for the cleanup crews!
But, I wonder what the woman was thinking when she tossed her padded bra. It's not the 1960's when going braless was a political statement. I guess it could have malfunctioned on her way to work and she wanted to hide that fact from a parking lot attendant. Then I realized we no longer have attendants in parking lots.
Fortunately for us, and our Riverkeeper, most of the local highway litter stays put until the cleanup crews do their job. Once a year the RK organizes a fisherman led cleanup of the Neuse riverbanks. Amazing how much litter comes downstream from Raleigh. And, how impassioned are those fishermen to keep their workplace clean.
Thanks Pam for sharing our story. I’m often asked how I can keep leading these cleanups – how it doesn’t get to me. It’s because of the volunteers – the awareness I see come over them. Most come back time and time again.
I thought you might like to see these hard stats. 2021 we removed 63 Tons and last year we removed just over 59 Tons. It's sad that littering still exists, it's heartwarming to see so many get out to help.
Hope to see you and your husband on another cleanup. We host 1-2 per month open to the public. And we plan private service projects for companies – which has become really popular.
Tammy Bates
Outings Director for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper