Signs to “Adopt a Mile” can be seen along many Georgia roads in an effort to encourage volunteers to keep the sides of our roadways litter-free. These signs may lead some to ask: “What about the countless miles of roadway that hardly ever have litter pickup? Where does all this garbage go if no one properly disposes of it?”- In short…DOWNSTREAM!
There are approximately 90,000 miles of roadways in Georgia, all of which have some type of stormwater drainage system. These drainage systems channel rainwater that cannot be absorbed by the ground to below-ground stormwater systems or surface streams, man-made and natural. Not only are these drainage systems capable of transporting large volumes of water, but they can also carry with it anything that floats or can be swept away by hydrodynamic forces, including litter. Most of these drainage systems flow into a pond or lake where the incoming litter is deposited and can accumulate creating a multitude of problems for the environment and the visual appeal of our waterways.
Much of the litter that our crews see during day-to-day operations is plastic or Styrofoam, and the impacts that this litter has on the environment are not only immediate but can last hundreds of years. Our crews routinely encounter the casualties of improperly disposed garbage.
This Largemouth Bass was found with plastic sheeting stuck in its mouth and gills.
Litter that is on dry land is easy enough to pick up by anyone willing and able, but once it has made its way into a lake or pond it will typically take specialized equipment of some sort to remove. Waders, boats, kayaks, nets, etc. are typically necessary to remove litter safely and effectively from a body of water.
As part of our services at Aquascape Environmental, our Lake Technicians remove hundreds of pounds of litter from lakes and ponds across North Georgia on a DAILY basis! Not only is the litter removed, but it is also sorted for recyclables in order to reduce the impact on our landfills.
Our crews are properly outfitted and ready to not only make your lake or pond look better, but also make it cleaner and healthier for people and the environment. And that is a WIN, WIN for all of us and the planet we live on!
