About 1,000 volunteers have collected over 63,000 pounds of trash from Texas waterways to date this year. The Gulf Trust, a nonprofit, led the effort through its Trash Free Gulf initiative.
Local Impact
In Fort Worth, 52 volunteers picked up nearly 750 pounds of trash from the trails and shores of the West Fork of the Trinity River at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge on May 9.
The Gulf Trust’s executive director, Jay Kleberg, emphasized the importance of preventing trash from reaching the Texas Gulf Coast. He noted that changes in behavior, coupled with education and awareness, can mitigate the effects of litter on local bodies of water and marine life.
Research from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that plastic can take 100 to 1,000 years to decompose, depending on environmental conditions. Animals may confuse plastics for prey and attempt to consume them, causing health risks to wildlife.
Conservation Efforts
The Gulf Trust is collecting data on the types and volume of litter discovered. Preliminary findings indicate that anywhere between 80 to 90% of trash collected is plastic or contains plastic chemicals.
Kleberg encouraged individuals to make changes in their daily lives to reduce plastic usage, such as using reusable materials. The organization’s cleanup efforts are set to end this month, with a goal of collecting 45,000 pounds of trash, including 6,000 plastic bottles.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
