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Get
more information on the April 15 – May 15 Trash Bash online at nomoretrash.org.
JEFFERSON
CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department
of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)
encourage people throughout Missouri to help “bash trash” during their 16th
annual No MOre Trash! Bash April 15 through May 15.
The event focuses on “spring cleaning” the
outdoors by asking people to pick up litter across Missouri from roadsides,
parks, neighborhoods, rivers, streams, trails, and other places. Trash Bash
activities also include various educational efforts in schools, community events,
and Earth Day celebrations around the state.
"Littering harms the environment
and pollutes our waterways," said MoDOT No MOre Trash! Coordinator Stacy
Armstrong. "Please consider the impact you can make on the environment by
recycling, reusing, and disposing of waste properly."
Each year, MoDOT spends about $6.75 million
to remove litter from more than 385,000 acres of roadsides along 34,000 state
highway miles. Annual volunteer efforts to pick up litter along Missouri
highways are valued at more than $1 million.
Littering also hurts wildlife and
Missouri outdoors.
"Many animals mistake litter for
food and become sick and die when they try to ingest it,” said MDC No MOre
Trash! Coordinator Joe Jerek. "Birds, fish, turtles, and other animals also
get tangled in litter, such as plastic six-pack holders and fishing line, and
it can kill them."
Last year, volunteers collected more
than 43,000 bags of litter and several truckloads of debris during the spring
No More Trash! Bash. People also attended numerous educational events that
stressed the importance of not littering.
Volunteers also participated through
Adopt-A-Highway and Stream Team litter cleanup events. Missouri Stream Team
Program volunteers removed 547 tons of litter from waterways and dedicated more
than $2.3 million worth of volunteer time to litter removal statewide annually.
Volunteers
are needed across the state this year to participate in litter cleanup
activities. Participants can report their cleanup efforts and will receive a No
MOre Trash! thank-you pin. For more information, visit nomoretrash.org, or call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).
 Thank you to these volunteers who got an early
start on this year’s Trash Bash by collecting 34 bags of trash and other debris
near Truman Lake. Top row l-r: Amber Dawn Wilson, Shawn Wilson, Tracey Miller,
and Chantelle Miller. Bottom row l-r: Garrett Harmon, Graham Harmon, and Addy
Miller. Volunteers not shown are Tommy Brison and Marsha Sharp. (PHOTO CREDIT:
Tommy Brison)
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