Volunteers needed for two area-wide cleanup events on March 2

Super-Clean Sweep and Keep Wakulla County Beautiful focus on

Apalachicola National Forest, Leon and Wakulla Counties

TALLAHASSEE – Volunteers from the U.S. Forest Service along-side Leon and Wakulla County residents, community organizations, county and city agencies will participate in two area-wide cleanup events on Saturday, March 2, 2013.

The first, Super-Clean Sweep in Leon County is associated with the Keep Tallahassee Leon County Beautiful program. The event attracts area volunteers who participate in cleanup efforts throughout Leon County, Fla., which includes parts of the Apalachicola National Forest.

This year’s Super-Clean Sweep starts at 8:00 a.m., on Forest Road 305 off of Rivers Road. Volunteers must pre-register by contacting Sharon Gray at 850-877-6579 or by email at aPlanToMeet@earthlink.net. Forest Edge Neighborhood will be providing a free lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In Wakulla County, volunteers will meet at FH-13 Government Pond for the Keep Wakulla County Beautiful trash pickup at 8:00 a.m. Participants must register with JoAnn Palmer by calling 850-745-7111 or by email atmailto:helpkwcb@gmail.com. Lunch will be provided free from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for all volunteers.

To kickoff this year’s Leon County Super-Clean Sweep, Woodsy Owl will be on hand to greet volunteers with his new slogan “Lend a hand - care for the land,” not to mention his old favorite, “Give a hoot don’t pollute.”

Each year teams of volunteers clean up “hot spots” identified by the Forest Service, Leon County Sheriff’s Department, and forest user groups. Leon County Public Works, Solid Waste Division and Recycling also consistently supports the cleanup effort every year.

“Forest Service law enforcement officers working with other area law enforcement agencies have been very effective in investigating and arresting persons littering debris in the forests,” said Apalachicola District Ranger Marcus Beard. “Some of the materials dumped are very hazardous and can seep into the soil contaminating the environment.”

The Apalachicola National Forest welcomes any ideas from the community to help stop illegal dumping, a crime that is punishable by jail time and/or monetary fines.

“Illegal dumping continues to be a problem in the Apalachicola National Forest. Last year teams of volunteers removed 20.69 tons of trash from the forest during the annual Super-Clean Sweep,” said longtime volunteer Sharon Gray. “Volunteers from Forest Edge Neighborhood, Southern Trail Riders, Capital City Jeep Club, and Richards High School Honor Society are already signed up to participate, but we need more people to step up to the plate and volunteer.”

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