711 Volunteers Make Huge Impact at Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup
Columbia, SC (February 2020) – The 13th Annual Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup, held on Saturday, February 1, drew hundreds of volunteers out in Berkeley County despite rain and chilly weather. With record numbers of volunteers we can see the reduction of litter collected from one of the state’s most popular outdoor recreational areas.
Volunteers of all ages joined together at the US Forest Service Office to make a big difference in just a few hours. The cleanup efforts removed 21,700 pounds of trash, including 2.4 tons of tires, or 4,800 pounds, and one discarded couch from the forest. Each year, PalmettoPride sees the numbers of overall trash decreasing, which is a good sign. Citizen engagement leads to behavior change and consistent litter cleanup leads to less litter over time.
The success of this annual event is due to the commitment of our volunteers and partners we have worked with year after year. PalmettoPride and the US National Forest Service, along with Keep Berkeley Beautiful and Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, coordinated multiple cleanup locations in Berkeley and Charleston Counties, along roadsides and deeper in the forest. Berkeley County Electric C0-op was a lunch sponsor.
Long time partners, the Lowcountry Jeep Club, assisted in the removal of an illegal dumpsite from the forest including thousands of roof shingles and other construction materials. Blueway Adventures and Charleston Waterkeeper targeted the surrounding waterways expanding the pickup reach beyond the roadways leading to the forest.
For more information about the cleanup or ways to get involved please visit PalmettoPride’s website or contact Scott Morgan at smorgan@palmettopride.org.
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PalmettoPride is working towards a litter-free South Carolina. Created as a legislative initiative to fight litter and help beautify South Carolina by engaging citizens to take action in their communities through education, enforcement, awareness and pickup.