A very enthusiastic group of approximately 20 Westport Island residents used near perfect weather to make the island’s April 28 cleanup day a great success.
Bags of trash and recyclables gathered from roadsides were taken to the town hall and subsequently trucked to the Wiscasset Transfer Station. All participants were given commemorative Westport Island canvas shopping bags.
As expected, trash collected from roadsides was mostly cigarette butts and discarded beverage and fast-food containers; however, like other years, participants continue to find a distressing amount of household trash, construction debris, discarded furniture, and old tires. One should be aware that the filters on cigarettes are made of a kind of plastic, which, unlike the tobacco, are not biodegradable and when carelessly discarded can persist on roadsides for years.
Thanks to Ann Springhorn, Donna Curry, Nancy Ryder, and Christy Hopkins for heading up the project at the town hall this year and for providing fruit and muffins to sustain the participants.
The efforts of many residents to help keep the island clean on a year-round basis by routinely picking up trash discarded along roadsides are appreciated. Many thanks to the Westport Island walkers who pick up trash on their daily trek. Please keep up the good work!
