week of 4/10/02
 
 
 

Make time to clean up litter in your community
To the editor:
Earth Day is on April 22. Last year at this time I was deeply involved in organizing a major litter pickup in downtown Waynesville, along Russ Avenue, Pigeon Street, U.S. 276 South, Old Asheville Highway and South Main Street out to Dayco. Many good people came out and helped pick up more than a truckload of unsightly litter. I want to thank all of you, once again, for all your efforts.

Another year has rolled around, and once again litter is scattered along our streets and highways. This year I have a few too many other commitments and projects to organize a litter pickup as I did last year, and I will be out of town the week leading up to Earth Day. So I would like to approach the litter campaign a bit differently this year.

I offer you two photographs. The first photograph shows you 10 bags — or “bundles” — of litter that I picked up on 10 half-hour dog walks. The tarp the bags are on was part litter, as well as the flashlight and exercise weights. In the second photo I have sorted out the recyclables and opened the bags to better show the range of this unsightly trash. This whole pile did a good job of filling a large orange trash bag (without the recyclables, which went in to a blue bag).

Here is what I ask. My pile of trash represents five hours of effort. I would like to see 500 hours of effort in the Earth Day 2002 Litter Campaign. That is only 50 people at 10 hours each, or 100 people at 5 hours each. You get the picture. I have committed to 10 hours of litter pickup between April I and April 22.

Will you join me? Any amount of time you can give will help! I have orange litter bags, blue recycling bags, gloves and orange vests at Twigs and Leaves, 98 N. Main Street, Waynesville, for all volunteers. Please call and tell me how many hours you can pledge to pickup litter (456.1940).

Kaaren Stoner
Waynesville