Thanks to all who care about the James River
Were you one of the hundreds of Richmond volunteers to participate in the annual James River Regional Cleanup June 11? If so, there was a big Thank You with plenty of statistics published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Letters to the Editor Monday, July 11. Recent public polls rate the James River as the No. 1 […]
Were you one of the hundreds of Richmond volunteers to participate in the annual James River Regional Cleanup June 11? If so, there was a big Thank You with plenty of statistics published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Letters to the Editor Monday, July 11.
Recent public polls rate the James River as the No. 1 reason people love this region. While people may talk about how much they love the river, much credit goes to the individuals who are making an effort to keep it cleaner for all of us.
At the recent annual James River Regional Cleanup, 873 people showed how much they care about the James by volunteering to pick up trash in and along the river. The event included 13 sites stretching from Buckingham to Charles City.
On a humid, 90-plus-degree day, volunteers collected more than 400 bags of trash, 314 bags of recyclable litter and 100 tires in a four-hour period. On the prior weekend, an additional tire cleanup held in Petersburg by Friends of the Lower Appomattox River resulted in 5,000 tires being collected.
Only once a year can we truly see the magnitude of the problem and the staggering volume of trash that accumulates on the river. And it’s not just litter that’s left by river visitors. A lot of it also comes from the many creeks and streams that enter the James. These streams funnel rainwater that carries trash discarded in roadside ditches, from bridge overpasses and in parking lots.
On behalf of the James River Advisory Council and the James River Association, co-sponsors of this year’s regional cleanup, we thank all of the volunteers and the many local businesses, organizations and government agencies who partner with us each year to make the cleanup happen.
We need not wait until next year’s event to make a difference. Each time you enjoy the James, pick up a piece of litter and dispose of it properly. Let’s make sure there is less trash to pick up next year.
Kimberly Conley,
Executive Director,
James River Advisory Council;Bill Street,
Executive Director,
James River Association.
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