Volunteer Tracy cleaned a variety of litter and beverage containers from the Suisun Waterfront area using a kayak. Photo courtesy of SRCD

SOLANO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - On a warm and sunny Saturday morning, 300 volunteers came out to sites around Solano County to clean up trash and recyclables in their communities in celebration of the 54th Annual Earth Day.

Equipped with reusable supplies such as gardening gloves, buckets, and pickup sticks, folks searched through parks, along trails, and even in the water for litter and recyclables large and small. Groups from local businesses, community organizations, and schools worked alongside families and individuals to both beautify and protect local water quality in a whopping 6 square miles over 11 cleanup sites.

 Youth members of the Police Activities League facilitated safety talks and weigh-ins at Vacaville’s Rocky Hill, along with collecting lots of litter. Photo courtesy of SRCD

With data still coming in from some of the biggest hauls, we already know that over 10,190 pounds of trash and 842 pounds of recyclable beverage containers have been removed from our shared green spaces, neighborhoods, and waterways through Saturday’s efforts.

Common finds were discarded recyclable glass and aluminum beverage containers, food wrappers, cigarette butts, single-use plastics, and paper and carboard products. Among the rarer items collected were holiday ornaments and an artificial tree, a Darth Vader teddy bear, and metal hardware from a dock.

The Earth Day Cleanup event is one of three county-wide efforts coordinated each year by Solano County agencies and cities along with Solano Resource Conservation District. Assemblymember Lori Wilson had her staff in full force at the Ledgewood Creek site in Fairfield. The dedication and grace from the team of cleanup volunteers shined brightly Saturday morning. Each participant left with an energy bar provided by the Sierra Club and Sprouts Farmers Market, and vegetable seed starts from Assemblymember Wilson’s staff. It was quite a success.

 Before and after at the Ledgewood Creek Cleanup site with Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s staff. Photo courtesy of SRCD

There were many different reasons volunteers came out on Saturday. Grayson, a local Vallejo high school student, was volunteering with her mom. She heard about this event through both her mother’s employment at Target, and through her local school. She says that these hours count towards her required volunteer hours to graduate but would willingly participate simply for the personal feeling of accomplishment. She has concerns for the local wildlife and would like to see less trash that can harm animals. Grayson encourages others to participate, saying that cleaning up trash is great exercise and very peaceful to be in nature.

People who missed this opportunity or who loved it and want to come back for more can join us at Lake Solano for the World Environment Day taking place on June 1st. The family-friendly event not only focuses on cleaning up the shoreline of a major water source for our county, Lake Berryessa, but also includes fun activities for volunteers such as planting grass plugs and forbs and making seed packets to attract pollinators to their gardens. Lunch and cold drinks will be available to all registered volunteers, who will also receive a commemorative T-shirt.  In addition, there will be guided kayak tours of Lake Solano and the opportunity to meet Bilgee the Bilge Pad, the protector of Lake Berryessa, who will encourage volunteers and pose for pictures.

This year’s last cleanup event is Coastal Cleanup Day, held in collaboration with the California Coastal Commission and globally with Ocean Conservancy and scheduled for Saturday, September 21st, 2024. To participate in or find out more about Solano County cleanup efforts, please visit cleanupsolano.org.

For more information about Solano County cleanups, contact Marianne Butler at Solano Resource Conservation District at (707) 678-1655 x 114 or [email protected].

Before and after at the Ledgewood Creek Cleanup site with Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s staff. Photo courtesy of SRCD