The Town of North Hempstead and the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee hosted two volunteer cleanups of tributaries to the bay.
“Coastal areas are vital to our local ecosystems, biodiversity, and, of course, recreation for our town’s residents. So, these cleanups help protect habitats and wildlife, but they’re also making a better, more pristine shoreline for all of us to enjoy, and that’s priceless. That’s why our town is so grateful to the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee volunteers who always pull together and do a fantastic job,” said Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena.
On March 12, high school volunteers from Great Neck High School’s Community Action Committee took to Manhasset Valley Park to collect loose trash strewn around and caught in bushes along the waterway. Types of trash collected were varied and included personal care items, but the bulk of the trash collected was associated with food and beverages.
On March 22, more than 60 volunteers picked up at least 250 pounds and 1,000 individual pieces of trash from Mill Pond Park in Port Washington.
Among the most interesting finds were a coconut, an entire cell phone still in its case, a giant rubber pipe and keys. The top two most numerous items collected were cigarette butts and food wrappers, such as chip bags.
Volunteers on the blustery but sunny day included local residents, families, high schoolers from Project Ripples and the Manhasset High School National Honor Society, and scouts from multiple Troops, including 423, 444, 612, 622, and 633, and Pack 77.
The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, the Town of North Hempstead, and the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society sponsored the event. Town Council Member Mariann Dalimonte was also present.
“I’m always thrilled to be a partner in these cleanup efforts with the Protection Committee,” Dalimonte said. “They offer our communities the chance to not only connect with their environment but also with each other. The volunteers are really an inspiration to anyone who witnesses the impact they make.”
Town parks hold tributaries to Manhasset Bay and are located along busy roads. The trash collected is likely a direct consequence of being along such busy thoroughfares.
Stopping trash and other pollutants here prevents them from reaching Manhasset Bay, making the bay healthier for everyone, including wildlife.
“Stopping trash as close to the source as possible is important to keeping microplastics and other pollutants out of our ecosystems, food, and water,” said Sarah Deonarine, executive director of the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee. “The volunteers who show up to these events always amaze me and the Committee is so thankful for their efforts to stop pollution in its tracks. Thank you to all the incredible people who came out and made these events so successful.”
