DIY: Resources and Safety

September 29, 2011 by Doug Powell 

Part of our series on Do-It-Yourself Cleanups

Resources:

Once the trash makeup and extent of dispersal are determined, you can decide what type resources are needed with regard to equipment and manpower.

If you have a significant quantity of larger items, you will need larger boats in navigable waterways and more manpower than in areas of the smaller hand-trash. Hoists and lifts may be
necessary to move the larger items.

Always make sure you have adequate manpower and the right equipment before you send volunteers out to a cleanup site. Sending too many volunteers to a site with little trash is just as bad as sending too few volunteers to a site with significantly large quantities of trash. Both are a misuse of resources and can cause volunteers to stop participating.

Providing maps and locations for volunteers to target is a must.

Safety:

• Emphasize caution and safety procedures while conducting a cleanup.
• Utilize proper lifting techniques.
• Wear proper protective gear during the cleanup.
• Watch for broken glass, nails in boards, stinging and biting insects, snakes and other creatures that inhabit our waterways.
• Do not empty sealed containers into the waterway. They can be properly disposed in the landfill.
• Remember, you will be in uneven terrain and water, so move carefully.

DIY: Recon

September 28, 2011 by Doug Powell 

Part of our series on Do-It-Yourself Cleanups

The first step is to determine the need by conducting a survey of the waterway. If you find a significant quantity of trash, determine what constitutes the makeup of the trash.

• Large items such as tires, furniture, refrigerators and freezers?
• Small hand-trash such as bottles, paper and cans?

If there has not been a cleanup in the past or the waterway is near an unauthorized dumping site, you may have both types of trash.

During the recon, mark the locations with large quantities of trash on a map and determine the extent of the trash in regard to the distance of the trash from an access point on the waterway.

Generally speaking, you will have to limit your efforts to specific sites, realizing you cannot clean the entire waterway. Never overextend!

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