Neighborhood Cleanup

One of the most tried and true ways of keeping trash out of the waterway is picking it up before it gets there. Just as when you stroll the beach with a bag in your hand, you should consider doing the same for areas in your neighborhood. Remember, the trash isn't going to leap into a can on its own.

It's very common to have a lot of debris from a construction site that ends up in the ditches along the road. By helping to clean this up before the next major storm you can keep a lot of pollution out of the water. Just consider the estimated biodegradation rates of the following typical items of trash (courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory):

paper towel (2-4 weeks)
cottom gloves (1-5 months)
cotton rope (3-14 months)
waxed milk carton (3 months)
plywood (1-3 years)
biodegradable diaper (12 months)
Styrofoam cup (50 years)
tin can (50 years)
monofilament fishing line (600 years)
aluminum can (200 years)

If there is a particularly trashy stretch of property - too much for one person - then let the town know. They can either handle it themselves or provide the supplies for any organized neighborhood cleanup.