Clean-up plucks two tons of trash from landscape

Volunteers across Franklin County removed over two tons of trash and debris from the shorelines and landscape on Saturday, Sept. 21. 

The 220 volunteers of the annual International Coastal Clean Up, fanned out across 14 sites from Bald Point State Park to Apalachicola’s Seafood Landing Park, removed litter and debris, including cigarette butts, cans, vape cartridges, foam cups, food containers, construction debris, a boat motor, tires, over 40 derelict crab traps, and a refrigerator.

Unusual items reported included a shop vac, bike frame, tent, ceramic skull, Barbie doll, and a law enforcement badge (which was returned).

A worldwide event, the annual Coastal Clean-Up in Franklin County is coordinated by Apalachicola Riverkeeper in collaboration with the Ocean Conservancy, Franklin County Solid Waste, St. George Island Trash Patrol, and Keep Franklin County Beautiful. 

This year’s event was dedicated to the legacy of longtime volunteer coordinator Ada Long who passed away earlier this year. “We all wanted to make Ada proud of us. She inspired us,” said Georgia Ackerman, co-coordinator of this year’s event. “She once told me ‘The natural world we live in is the greatest gift we have.’ The annual cleanup gives us an opportunity to put our care of Franklin County into action.”

Jo Pearman, site coordinator on St. George Island said, “All and all it was a good turnout for the island, collecting about 235 pounds of trash from all over the island and on the bay. And that doesn’t include a tire, a boat motor, rebar, and a piece of old chain link fence.” She now coordinates St. George Island Trash Patrol.

Sites ranged from two volunteers at Abercrombie Landing to 52 volunteers at Bald Point State Park. Several sites had student and scouting groups show up to pitch in. Dr. Julian Bruce St. George Island State Park benefitted from the help of a Bainbridge, Georgia scouting troop who removed 150 pounds of trash. 

Heidi Montgomery, an Eastpoint site coordinator, said she was encouraged by the hard work of Eastpoint Scout Troop 22 and several freshmen from Franklin County High School. “The positive energy from the group exponentially increased,” she said. 

Susan Macken of Apalachicola Riverkeeper said several residents stopped to thank them during the morning clean up. In Battery Park, Susan Anderson, also of Apalachicola Riverkeeper, said she talked to several residents about water issues and how to get involved.

Bald Point State Park had participants from Florida State University’s Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society and Audubon youth cadets working with local retirees. The collective team removed litter, construction debris, and 40 derelict crab traps from the beach area. Kathy Swaggerty, who has coordinated Lanark Beach for several years, said that “this was the perfect weather day. I was happy to see some of the loyal volunteers that come every year and a couple of new folks. The comment we heard most often when they returned was how little trash there was to pick up. This was a great problem to have!” The volunteers were also treated to a pancake breakfast by the Lanark Village Boat Club.

Lynn Wilder, of Keep Franklin County Beautiful, was gladdened by the impressive litter retrieval skills of volunteers at Two Mile (Seafood Landing Park), working with nets on long extension poles to pull litter from the marsh grass. The group also sorted cans to go to recycling, an effort spearheaded by the group. 

“Trash and debris in soil and water threaten human health, water quality, boating safety, and wildlife habitat,” said Ackerman. “The annual Coastal Clean Up volunteers shared a few hours of time to make a big, collective difference for our shorelines. Apalachicola Riverkeeper wants to again thank partners, site coordinators, site sponsors and the volunteers who all worked together to support a successful, collective Clean Up for Franklin County.”

To learn more about the work of Apalachicola Riverkeeper, visit apalachicolariverkeeper.org