The 4th of July is a prime holiday to see litter accumulating on our streets, beaches, and parks. Firework casings or a plastic bag stuck in a tree are some examples. Additionally, plastic 6-pack rings, jars and metal cans lying on the ground. We’ve all witnessed it. Sometimes we even rationalize that it was because of a wind storm that blew it out of the garbage or recycling bin and do nothing because “it’s only one piece” or “someone else will get it.” Someone else will get it, but it is costing North Platte and Lincoln County over $20,000 a year in litter cleanup. This amount does not include litter enforcement.
“This year we have seen an increase in litter on the beaches at Lake Maloney,” said Mona Anderson, Executive Director of Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful. “It is sad to see that individuals don’t want to take personal responsibility for their trash. The pollution will eventually infect the lake to the point of killing habitat.” Anderson wants to remind everyone that if they pack it to take to the lake, they also need to pack it back out, which includes items such as wrappers and cigarette butts. The beaches at Lake Maloney also provide trash receptacles to toss unwanted items. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 1. 9 billion tons of litter ends up in the ocean every year via our local lakes and rivers. 80% of all Marine Debris is directly traced back to ground litter.
Litter created by fireworks is also a major problem over the 4th of July Holiday. Thousands of fireworks are lit off in North Platte every year with casings left over from each one. It is the responsibility of each household to clean up their firework debris. The City of North Platte does not use a street sweeper or any other means to rid the streets of the litter. Cleaning up your litter is also part of being a good neighbor. Litter rarely stays in one place and someone else may get stuck cleaning up your mess or the debris can wash into our river system.
Here’s a few helpful tips for cleaning up your fireworks debris:
- Have the right cleanup equipment ready.
- Allow spent fireworks to sit for several minutes – ensure fireworks are completely extinguished before approaching.
- Use a broom to sweep up debris.
- As a final precaution, temporarily place in a metal bucket or a bucket with sand or water.
- Place cool fireworks in regular trash for disposal