Polk County will join the rest of the state to play its part of N.C. “Big Sweep” on Saturday, Oct. 1. During its 24-year history, more than 300,000 Big Sweep volunteers have retrieved more than10 million pounds of debris, which is the visual equivalent of more than 25,000 football fields five feet deep in debris.
Litter can last hundreds of years in the environment. Before it decomposes, litter can hurt our economy when businesses refuse to locate to an area if it is too trashy. Tourists won’t linger in trashy areas, they won’t spend money, and they won’t return with their friends. Litter can be a human health hazard, when it contaminates the water supply as it decomposes. It’s also deadly to wildlife that eat litter or become entangled in it. Once entangled, wildlife attracts other wildlife to the same hazard.
Over 40 volunteers helped clean six miles of waterways and retrieved over 1,200 pounds in 2010. This year Polk County efforts will focus on the Green River along Green River Cove Rd. Cleanups will begin at 9 a.m. and last until noon. Volunteers will meet at the Fishtop access parking area on Green River Cove Rd. Fishtop access is the large gravel parking lot at the bottom of the switchbacks coming off Holbert Cove Rd. near Interstate 26 Saluda exit.
Volunteers can contact Polk County Coordinator Mark Byington at 828-859-6874 or go to the Big Sweep website at www.ncbigsweep.org to learn more.
– article submitted by Mark Byington