What is found during a clean up? You might be surprised.

Cigarettes on every list of Rockland cleanup day accumulation

Mon, 05/06/2019 - 9:15am

ROCKLAND — Cigarette butts continue to top the list of items picked up during Rockland’s annual clean-up event.

A group of approximately 40 people enjoyed sunny, 55-degree temperatures, Sunday, May 5, as they lent assistance in reducing the eyesores marring their favorite public venues.

This year, the Harbor Trail Committee partnered with the newly re-organized Parks and Rec department. Volunteers were given free rein over where in the city they chose to concentrate their efforts.

A few participants broke from the pack and disbursed to MacDougal Park, on Broadway, to the playground across from the YMCA on Water Street, and along nearby roads.

The majority of volunteers, however, stayed near the Trail, from Harbor Park to Sandy Beach; a couple of them spent several minutes going between the vehicles parked overlooking the harbor. There, the accumulation of cigarette nubs was high, which was also the case near the benches and picnic tables around the area.

Also found along the way were a prophylactic, a pair of socks, multiple pieces of rope, fishing gear, lobster buoys, a pair of underwear, pieces of metal, a diaper in a tree, cigarette butts...

...An Easter egg hidden under a tree by the YMCA, a piece of candy, microplastic, cigarette butts...

A 2-gallon container of old motor oil by the Landings on the rocks, Tyvec, landscape cloth bound up in rocks, a container of some unknown substance, a hockey puck...and cigarette butts.

After 1.5 to 2 hours of bending, scrambling, raking, lifting, and dispensing, volunteers replenished their energy stores with hamburgers and hot dogs, courtesy of Wiggins Meat Market.

 

See last year’s article:

Rockland Earth Day volunteers record increase of tossed trash

 

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com