Dirty Job: 342 trash bashers raze 3.91 tons of litter from local roads

March 25, 2009 at 8:43 am  | Mobile Reader | Print 

At the parish’s first-ever Trash Bash event, 342 volunteers from community groups and industry filled 391 bags with roadside litter, estimated to total 7,820 pounds. The volunteers, who spread out near their homes, covered more than 69 miles of roadway in almost every community in the parish.

“I think that the event opened many residents’ eyes to the severity of the litter and dumping problem in St. Charles Parish and raised awareness for the parish’s recycling efforts,” Parish spokeswoman Renee Simpson said. “Volunteers found many items that couldn’t be bagged, including car and truck tires, car panels, toilets, bikes, hub caps, grocery carts, televisions, pallets and metal pipes.

“Roadside cigarette butts were a problem as well.”

Local industry who took part in the event also collected 4,074 pounds of used electronic items to be recycled. Additionally, the Recycling Foundation of Baton Rouge got 16.22 tons of household recyclables dropped off at two trucks parked at the Spillway Boat Launch.

“We really want to thank all of those who volunteered their time for this worthy cause by either cleaning up the streets that morning, spending time at the Trash Bash event, or manning any of the food and information booths,” Simpson said. “Because of the great enthusiasm and support, the parish is looking at its options for holding another Trash Bash in the fall.”

Simpson said that the parish will also have public service announcements and signage as part of the awareness campaign. In addition, the parish has begun offering recycling drop-offs the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Charles Plaza on Highway 90 in Luling and the Allen Arterbury Building on River Road in New Sarpy.

Recycling is free to the public in conjunction with the Recycling Foundation of Baton Rouge.