Winter Snow Brings Spring Trash – How You Can Help Keep the Community Litter-Free
Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy volunteers clean up over 150 different clean-up sites located in streamside areas, public parks and open spaces within the Perkiomen Watershed.
(YourErie.com) When the snow melts, it reveals a new problem hidden beneath the sheet of white – trash.
If you’ve been around the community lately, you’ve likely noticed it yourself, with lines of litter scattered around roadways and waterways.
“If you drive after the snow melts, you see all of these little treasures everywhere, except they’re not really treasures. They make our community look dirty, and they can really have some detrimental effects to wildlife as well,” said Don Benczkowski, Program Director with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Benczkowski said the most frequently littered item is cigarette butts, followed by food wrappers, bottles and cans.
When litter hits the ground, wind and water carry it to streams and ditches, and in some cases, it makes its way all the way to Lake Erie.
“Do all of us a favor and take care of your area, whether it’s your church, whether it’s your school, whether it’s your neighborhood,” said Benczkowksi. “Be proud of where you live, and that’s what we’re trying to get across. We want to make sure people are responsible, but we want to live in a clean community as well.”
Benczkowski said you may not have put the litter there, but it’s important to do your civic obligation to pick it up, and there are plenty of ways to get involved.
