More than 100 volunteers removed over six tons of trash from one of the state’s major waterways during the 21st annual Great Kanawha River Cleanup earlier this month.
The Sept. 11 event was sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s REAP (Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan) program.
Covering five sites in Kanawha, Putnam and Fayette counties, 135 volunteers picked up 6.75 tons of debris along the river and 117 tires. They worked 540 man hours.
“This year, we had more volunteers who removed more trash and tires,” said REAP’s Travis Cooper, who organized the cleanup. “It’s very encouraging to see how citizens want to do what they can and pitch in to clean up the environment. We had all facets of the community, from Girl Scouts, to college students, to retired folks, helping out.”
REAP supplied bags, gloves and trash grabbers for the cleanup and arranged for the debris to be hauled away.