Volunteers Needed for Cleanup Sites Across Durham

DURHAM, N.C. – Recent rains from Hurricane Florence have left litter strewn along creeks and roadsides throughout Durham. Residents ready to help protect fish and wildlife from harmful litter while also boosting the appearance of the community are invited to volunteer now for Durham Big Sweep 2018.

Last year’s annual fall cleanup removed more than 30,000 pounds of trash and recyclables that would have otherwise washed downstream into drinking water reservoirs. Volunteers can sign up now at www.durhambigsweep.org to join an existing cleanup or to register a cleanup site with their own group. If volunteers cannot participate on Saturday, October 6, they are encouraged to pick another day in September or October to roll up their sleeves and help clean up Durham.

According to Keep Durham Beautiful Executive Director Tania Dautlick, 5,100 volunteers have picked up over 160,000 pounds of litter since the inception of Durham Big Sweep in 2000. “We can reduce litter,” said Dautlick. “We are a community that takes tremendous pride in everything Durham. We can all do our part to transform litter hot spots into green spots.”

The Durham Big Sweep 2018, coordinated by the Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District, Keep Durham Beautiful, and the City of Durham Public Works Department Stormwater & GIS Services Division, focuses on removing litter before it can negatively impact water quality and harm wildlife.

Volunteers will receive supplies including gloves, trash bags, litter grabbers, and vests. Additional support for Durham Big Sweep 2018 is provided by the Durham County General Services Department and the City of Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Department.

For more event information and volunteer opportunity details, contact Keep Durham Beautiful at info@keepdurhambeautiful.org or (919) 560-4197

About the Durham County Soil & Water Conservation District
The Durham County Soil & Water Conservation District seeks to conserve, enhance and promote the natural resources of Durham County by providing technical assistance, environmental education information and economic incentives to County citizens and by exhibiting a diversified program to meet its changing needs. For more information, visit the website, like on Facebook, and follow on Twitter.

About Keep Durham Beautiful

Keep Durham Beautiful is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City of Durham General Services Department and Durham County to encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to protect the environment and enhance the appearance of Durham through cleanup events, beautification projects, waste reduction, and educational activities. To learn more, visit the website, like on Facebook, and follow on Instagram, flickr, and Twitter.

About the Public Works Department Stormwater and GIS Services Division

The Stormwater and GIS Services Division with the City of Durham Public Works Department is guided by the City’s Strategic Plan goals of stewardship of the City’s physical and environmental assets and innovative and high-performing organization. Activities include storm drainage design and plans review; inspecting and maintaining City-owned drainage systems; enforcing stormwater ordinances and regulations; education and outreach; stream monitoring, restoration, and watershed master planning; maintaining multiple layers of the City’s geographic information; and stormwater billing. To learn more visit the division’s web page, like on Facebook, and follow on Twitter.