ANDERSON, Ind. —
During 12 years of vitally important community service, White River Watchers have collected 7,000 tires during cleanups along the chief waterway in Madison County.
That many tires would — bear with us here — fit onto 1,750 Hummers which could be parked end-to-end and reach about 5 1/2 miles — or be placed on the same number of Mini Coopers but forming a straight line about two miles less.
Those numbers might illustrate the crucial environmental impact that the Watchers have provided this community since 1997. Sadly, the numbers also point to missed chances for recycling and proper disposal of trash. For example, the tires collected by the Watchers are accepted by Walmart.
Pulling tires, water heaters, appliances — even a 2-foot long live alligator in 2008 — and other unfit items from White River has been a daunting assignment for the White River Watchers. Before the nonprofit group was formed, area residents treated White River as a dumping ground that would carry their home trash down river. Out of sight, out of mind. Indeed, as the Watchers like to point out, before the Clean Water Act of 1972, White River was a sewer.
But at the recent July 17 Riverfest cleanup, one volunteer remarked that it was getting harder to find trash to remove from the river.
Perhaps much of the trash is out of the way in the area they cleaned this month. But the work will never end as long as White River rolls for at least 20 miles through our county.
The next cleanup is set for Sept. 11 with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Go to whiteriverwatchers.org to find out more.
In addition to the physical cleanup of the river, White River Watchers try to educate the public about the vast resource that flows nearby. The presence of 100 river cleaners is a good visual reminder for residents to protect White River. But a better sign would be double or triple that number of participants.
And now that 7,000 tires are out of the way, removing trash might be a little easier.
Editorials
Editorial: It may be harder to find trash, but river cleanups still needed
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