In early May, Scott Statson along with several area students will be on the road searching for an all too common menace.
Trash.
‘We will cover every road in Atlas Township. We want to basically pick up trash that has made its way to the roadside and other trash along the sides of the road,? said Statson, an Atlas Township trustee.
Statson and a group of about 100 area students will spearhead a communitywide effort to clean up the area, road by road.
The clean-up will be divided into different sections across the township. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department will do their part in keeping the roadways safe during the event.
‘We want everyone involved who lives in Atlas Township. The more people that show up, the more clean the roads will be,? Statson said.
At a recent township board meeting, Statson and student representative Nick McElrath noticed how badly some of the roads are littered.
‘I told NHS about the idea, hoping we could spread it to the school that way,? said McElrath.
While the students are helping with the project, other community members are encouraged to participate.
‘This is the first time that Atlas Township has done anything like this. We think it’s really important for not only Atlas officials to join us, but for the entire community to help,? said Statson.
On the same day as the area cleanup, a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, for Atlas Township residents will also be held in Mundy Township and Flint.
Officials from the Michigan State University Extension program, remind residents that throwing away products should be the last choice, especially near wells or sewers. Even something as simple as pouring pesticides or herbicides into the ground is extremely harmful to the environment. Even if the chemicals do not reach direct water sources, it can leave the soil affected.
Jack Knorek, Program manager for the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program affiliated with the Michigan Department of Agriculture said there are many dangers to dumping materials into the trash and into the ground.
‘People may not know that the danger is not necessarily into the ground, but when it reaches the sidewalks. Once this happens it goes directly into the storm sewers. They are not connected with the main sewer systems that can filter many toxins out before they reach water. When they reach the storm sewers, it goes directly into a main body of water and that’s why we have many problems in our lakes, rivers and streams.?
Knorek also said that dumping materials in the trash can cause on-the -spot and future problems.
‘When there are toxic chemicals in a trash bag, the bag can rip and spill onto sanitation workers or leak once they reach the landfill. We have to do better than just ‘hope? they are sealed, said Knorek. ‘This may not affect this generation or even our childrens, but it will one day be exposed.?