The only thing that belongs in nature, is nature
RICHLAND - It starts small and adds up. Fishing strings, paper cups , and bits of trash everywhere.
Richland's Bateman Island used to be beautiful- but people's irresponsibility has left it a virtual dump.
"It’s just sad you know people shouldn't deposit trash like that”, says Volunteer, Angela Matthews.
Faced with a dumping ground in the middle of the Columbia River, folks like Angela Mathews took matters into their own hands.
She was one of 100 people who came to Bateman Island to put an end to the trash, dumpings, and irresponsibility.
On Saturday morning, they walked every inch of the island, looking for anything that didn't belong.
"Its heartening that you know as humans who are suppose to be taking care of the open spaces that we have trashed them like we do", says Matthews.
Last year they had about 30 volunteers but this year they had over 100. They’re hoping that this event can happen twice a year. That way they can control the trash that comes in and hope to reduce it.
" The last couple of years the users have become the abusers and we would like to start a full year campaign to re-educate some of the users that that’s not what this is about”, says President of Tapteal Greenway Association, Scoot Woodward. “They don’t have the right to mess it up for everybody else in the public.”
Volunteers of all ages took away mounds of trash. In an effort to keep people from dumping they installed new signs and trash bag dispensers, as well as added pet waste stations.
"Today you see about 100 people show up in different groups and they all have energy and they care, that proves that this has a lot of public value”, says Woodward.
One volunteer here summed it up the best; "The only thing that belongs in nature is nature.”
Richland's Bateman Island used to be beautiful- but people's irresponsibility has left it a virtual dump.
"It’s just sad you know people shouldn't deposit trash like that”, says Volunteer, Angela Matthews.
Faced with a dumping ground in the middle of the Columbia River, folks like Angela Mathews took matters into their own hands.
She was one of 100 people who came to Bateman Island to put an end to the trash, dumpings, and irresponsibility.
On Saturday morning, they walked every inch of the island, looking for anything that didn't belong.
"Its heartening that you know as humans who are suppose to be taking care of the open spaces that we have trashed them like we do", says Matthews.
Last year they had about 30 volunteers but this year they had over 100. They’re hoping that this event can happen twice a year. That way they can control the trash that comes in and hope to reduce it.
" The last couple of years the users have become the abusers and we would like to start a full year campaign to re-educate some of the users that that’s not what this is about”, says President of Tapteal Greenway Association, Scoot Woodward. “They don’t have the right to mess it up for everybody else in the public.”
Volunteers of all ages took away mounds of trash. In an effort to keep people from dumping they installed new signs and trash bag dispensers, as well as added pet waste stations.
"Today you see about 100 people show up in different groups and they all have energy and they care, that proves that this has a lot of public value”, says Woodward.
One volunteer here summed it up the best; "The only thing that belongs in nature is nature.”
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