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EAST WINDSOR: Locals clean waterways

EAST WINDSOR — Volunteers from 12 communities joined with the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association – Central New Jersey’s first environmental group – and area municipalities to remove 11,664 pounds of trash from local streams and lakes as part of the Watershed Association’s 8th Annual Stream Cleanup, according to the organization.
   At Etra Lake Park in East Windsor, Mayor Janis Mironov and 80 area volunteers from schools, businesses and homes collected 782 pounds of trash and debris left by flood, wind and thoughtless littering from the lake area.
   In Hightstown, 21 volunteers removed 276 pounds of trash and debris from Peddie Lake.
   ”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 Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed 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, dishwasher rack, window blinds, and stuffed animals. As in past years, plastic bottles, shopping bags and food wrappers continue to be the most prevalent items pulled, according to the organization.
   The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s 8th Annual Stream Cleanup was held on April 5 and 12.
   Volunteers from 12 towns and four counties rolled up their sleeves to help keep the region’s lakes, rivers and streams clean and healthy, according to the organization.
   The 12 towns that participated in the Cleanup are Cranbury, East Windsor, Franklin Township, Hightstown, Hillsborough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Millstone Township, Monroe Township, Plainsboro Township, Princeton and West Windsor.
   The group said to give special thanks to our 2014 Stream Clean-up Sponsors: Bloomberg, New Jersey Clean Communities, American Rivers, and Aztec Graphics.