A “trash trap” created to clean up local waterways uses a cost-efficient and kid-friendly technique. Called a Litter Skimmer, it floats on the water's surface and filters out trash being carried downstream. It's made of recycled materials: milk gallons, plastic fencing, rope, and zip ties. Some of the items that may have polluted waterways and filled landfills are made into tools that clean them instead. In 2005, volunteers in eastern Tennessee collected 1,500 bags of trash caught by the skimmers, according to the
The Izaak Walton League of America, which encourages local community groups to identify litter trash spots and install a skimmer.
Charlotte homeschooling parent Julie Shrader brought this interesting project from her family in Maryland. Their
Friends of Sligo Creek clean the trash from the water, and land surrounding the waterway, and have installed litter skimmers there. Her family and other homeschoolers installed this pilot project in a creek in Union County. The creek is cleaned by pulling the skimmer back to one bank and retrieving items caught in it. Now the weather is warmer, the kids are ready to jump in the creek and measure the results of their efforts.
They want interested people to join them this month to wade in the creek and help bag the litter, and dispose of it properly. They will study, weigh and document the litter, to record the results of the skimmer's effectiveness. If you'd like to join in, contact Julie Shrader at (704) 366-4859, or jvshrader@bellsouth.net.
A “trash trap” created to clean up local waterways uses a cost-efficient and kid-friendly technique. Called a Litter Skimmer, it floats on the water's surface and filters out trash being carried downstream. It's made of recycled materials: milk gallons, plastic fencing, rope, and zip ties. Some of the items that may have polluted waterways and filled landfills are made into tools that clean them instead. In 2005, volunteers in eastern Tennessee collected 1,500 bags of trash caught by the skimmers, according to the The Izaak Walton League of America, which encourages local community groups to identify litter trash spots and install a skimmer.
Charlotte homeschooling parent Julie Shrader brought this interesting project from her family in Maryland. Their Friends of Sligo Creek clean the trash from the water, and land surrounding the waterway, and have installed litter skimmers there. Her family and other homeschoolers installed this pilot project in a creek in Union County. The creek is cleaned by pulling the skimmer back to one bank and retrieving items caught in it. Now the weather is warmer, the kids are ready to jump in the creek and measure the results of their efforts.
They want interested people to join them this month to wade in the creek and help bag the litter, and dispose of it properly. They will study, weigh and document the litter, to record the results of the skimmer's effectiveness. If you'd like to join in, contact Julie Shrader at (704) 366-4859, or jvshrader@bellsouth.net.
1 comment:
Hi there - My name is Jessica McFadden and I am writing a piece on my blog that is working to inspire local families to come out for a watershed clean-up event. Could I possibly use your image of the girl helping to clean the creek? My e-mail is jessica.mcfadden@gmail.com. Great piece and thank you!
Post a Comment