11,664 pounds of trash removed from area waterways
Over two weekends, volunteers from 12 communities joined with the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association and area municipalities to remove 11,664 pounds of trash from local streams and lakes as part of the association’s 8th annual Stream Cleanup.
At Colonial Lake Park in Lawrence, Mayor Cathleen Lewis and 73 area volunteers collected 610 pounds of trash and debris left by flood, wind and thoughtless littering from the Colonial Lake preventing it from reaching the downstream Stony Brook and Millstone River.
”The stream cleanups are a great way for families to enjoy our open spaces and clean up our waterways. The Watershed Association is a terrific partner with Lawrence Township in protecting and restoring clean water and healthy habitats,” said Mayor Lewis.
”The record amount of trash removed from our watershed is a testament to the sheer number of dedicated volunteers who came out this year,” said Jennifer Coffey, policy director for the association. “Our shared waterways continue to suffer from pollution and much of it is avoidable. Our annual cleanup events are just one of the watershed’s many initiatives to restore New Jersey’s water.”
Some of the more unusual items removed include tires, a sledge hammer, and discarded patio chairs. As in past years, plastic bottles, shopping bags and food wrappers continue to be the most prevalent items pulled.