Renew Our Rivers

Preview of Lake Eufaula Cleanup

Ike Pigott — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:01:39 +0000

More information to come in this weekend’s edition of the Eufaula Tribune.

Update to Yates and Thurlow

Ike Pigott — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:21:49 +0000

We’ve updated the schedule, to show a new contact for the Yates and Thurlow cleanup on April 20.

If you’re interested in helping or have other questions, please call Joel Johnston at 334- 239-6323.

The 2012 Schedule Is Online

Ike Pigott — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:09:46 +0000

The schedule for the 2012 Renew Our Rivers cleanups is now online. Please check for accuracy, and we will update the dates and information if and when they change.

2011 Highlights

Brandon Glover — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:01:27 +0000

Twenty-nine volunteer cleanups were held across Alabama during this year’s Renew Our Rivers campaign. More than 5,000 volunteers worked to remove over 165 tons of debris from state waterways on the Black Warrior, Cahaba, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Mobile and Tallapoosa rivers, and on Village Creek. Volunteers for Renew Our Rivers – one of the Southeast’s largest river cleanups – have collected more than 11.5 million pounds of trash and debris from Southeast rivers since the program’s inception in 2000. Keep an eye out for comprehensive 2011 totals coming soon.

Lake Martin Success

Doug Powell — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:11:31 +0000

During a two-day stretch last month, a team of 179 volunteers pulled 8.7 tons of trash and debris out of Lake Martin!

Impact in Demopolis

Ike Pigott — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:21:25 +0000

Volunteers participated in the annual Renew Our Rivers Clean Up on Lake Demopolis earlier this month. The cleanup covered the Black Warrior River along with below and above the Demopolis Lock and Dam located on The Tombigbee River.

Employees from Alabama Power’s Greene County Steam Plant provided resources and volunteers with assistance from civic organizations and students from Demopolis High School.

DIY Cleanup Guide

Doug Powell — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:33:34 +0000

Here is a recap of our online guide to Do-It-Yourself Renew Our Rivers cleanups:

Additionally, you can download the PDF version of How to Organize and Conduct a Waterway Cleanup and distribute it however you’d like. Just be sure to let us know about the cleanups you’re involved in!

DIY: Duration and Record-Keeping

Doug Powell — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:28:06 +0000

Part of our series on Do-It-Yourself Cleanups

Duration of cleanup

Cleanups should generally be in the morning hours, if possible. This is especially true during warmer months.

If the cleanup begins at 8 a.m., it should end at noon. A picnic lunch following the event is always well-received. This helps make the cleanup a social event, and it may become an annual event.

In some cases, volunteers may wish to work all day. This may depend on what items are being picked up. However, do not burn out your volunteers! Remember, they are volunteers and donate their own time and money to help this cause.

Record keeping

Record the number of volunteers and poundage collected. This information allows you to keep a record of the cleanups for comparison, publicity and other factors.

A signup sheet with contact information is a good way to communicate future cleanups to your volunteers.

Locust Fork 2011

Ike Pigott — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:20:19 +0000

Wesley Hicks sent us this picture from the Locust Fork cleanup.

In all, 21 people combined to collect more than 1,820 pounds of trash.

DIY: Disposal and Recycling

Doug Powell — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:31:08 +0000

Part of our series on Do-It-Yourself Cleanups

Disposal of trash

Proper disposal of the trash is one of the most important factors in having a successful cleanup. Pre-arrange the method of disposal. Contact a waste management company and local landfill prior to the cleanup and have this duty handled long before the event.

Recycling

If you desire to recycle, let the volunteers know before the cleanup so they can separate as they pick up the trash. Separation during initial pickup is more efficient if you are depending on non-machine separation of the trash.