Big Sweep nets 50 bags of trash
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on October 4, 2004 1:56 PM
The 2004 Big Sweep has netted 50 bags of trash from 12 miles of Wayne County waterways so far, and more results are still coming in.
Barbara Byers, local Big Sweep coordinator, said 150 volunteers cleaned 12 miles of waterways Saturday.
The largest amount of trash was collected by the Boy Scouts, who put canoes into the Neuse River and cleaned about eight miles of the river, filling 21 bags with trash. In addition to the normal food containers, drink bottles and plastic bags, they also found a bedframe along the river bank.
Brownie Troop 257 of Rosewood cleaned a half mile of waterways at three sites -- Ferry Bridge and Stephen's Mill boat landings and Rosewood Elementary School.
Fourteen people helped including nine girls and five adults. They collected eight bags of trash, which totaled 14 pounds.
Karen Fail, leader, said the girls were anxious to go from site to site picking up trash. "The girls fought over picking up the trash, each rushing to get a piece before the next girl so they could fill up their data cards," she said.
This was the troop's first year of participating in Big Sweep. Ms. Fail said they did it because they wanted to be more involved in the community and help out in different ways to try to make a difference in some small way.
"We see all the trash in our rivers and it kills the animals," she said. Every little bit we can do helps."
Girl Scouts cleaning Capps Bridge boat landing found an armchair, a camper and underpinning.
Common items collected included drink caps, lids and bottles, bags and cigarette butts.
Groups helping out this year were Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs and after-school programs, Boys and Girls Club of Fremont and Rosewood Middle School art club.