How To Make A Rug out of Plastic Bags

 

12/29/20: Interview with Member of the Watershed

 Name: Gunja

Date: December 29th, 2020

Interview with Member of the Watershed

After doing a river clean up organized by Cameron, a member of the AmeriCorp Watershed Ambassador program, my partner in this project, and I requested to interview him. In the interview, he spoke about his involvement with the organization and his experiences with watershed cleanups. He explained that the Watershed program was run through three different entities, his being run through AmeriCorp and  the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection. His job specifically is data monitoring and collection and he is working alongside the Raritan Headwaters Association in Far Hills, New Jersey. There are 20 watershed ambassadors, one for each of New Jersey's 20 watershed management areas and he is in watershed number eight: North and South Branch Raritan. North and South Branch Raritan also encompasses Hunterdon, Somerset, and a part of Morris County. The Watershed Ambassador program offers free environmental education programs and  partners with schools or organizations like Girl Scouts to kind of offer watershed informational sessions, as well as,  visual and biological stream assessments, Environmental stewardship training, and partnership projects with other organizations. Some of the challenges the wanted shed encountered include the flooding in the highly developed and densely populated state of New Jersey, and invasive species.

In Cameron's presentation he touched upon invasive species and later went into depth about them. He informed us on different types of invasive species and how they grow very fast and block sunlight, take a vast area of underwater habitat for native species and suffocate the area, leaving little to no oxygen for the native species.

We had a couple specific questions that we wanted to ask Cameron. One question we asked him was what caused him to join the watershed? Cameron had previously been working in the energy industry as an energy consultant and part of his work involved working with the vegetation management unit for electric power companies to prevent forest fires. That is what sparked an interest for Cameron. He also talked about his background in water quality issues. He spent three and a half years in Kenya, when he was in college, working with Engineers Without Borders, installing, helping design, and implementing a kind of monitor water catchment system. Cameron grew more interested in forestry and watershed problems and wanted more first hand experience in repairing forestry.

Another question we had for Cameron was asking what the dirtiest body of water or river that he has cleaned or assessed. He found the dirtiest river he has encountered in the Arthur Kill Watershed. Three rivers that he assessed that day were all very polluted and he found items such as shopping carts, tires, and lots of glass in one of the rivers.

We asked about any suggestions for future water clean ups. He didn't have any specific sites in mind however we were advised not to go into water, to use gloves during our cleanups, and to have supervision. He informed us that we could try using our grabbers or long nets to collect trash floating out in the water if it was close enough. If the trash was too far away, heavy, or submerged under that water, a team would be needed to extract the debris from the water. 

Camerons said his favorite part of being in the watershed was, “being on the water, like on the edge of the water, in that transitional zone between land and river.” He disliked staying inside during his previous job. He said he would have to fight in Michigan twice a week, and then sit in a cubicle all weekend, when all he desired was to be outside. Being a Watershed Ambassador fulfilled this desire for Cameron and allowed him to be happy with his career.

Finally, we wondered how being a part of the Watershed community affected his personal life. It doesn't affect his personal life much, besides being busy on the weekends, when most people are free to do clean ups. Overall, Cameron said he was more conscious of how he interacted with the environment around him and how he is impacting his watershed.

12/28/20: Summary of Our Silver Award (Gunja)

  Name: Gunja

Date: December 28th, 2020

Summary

There are multiple things I have learned throughout this Take Action Project. One big takeaway is that although it is common knowledge that litter is detrimental to the environment, people will still litter. Whether it was accidental, or because littering was easier to do than find a trash can, there is litter almost everywhere. During this project, my partner and I taught younger Girl Scouts about the effects of littering, at a Service Unit event. We talked with Hillsborough Clean Communities and The Watershed about the environment overall, and about our project. We also joined Hillsborough Clean Communities for their “Littercon” event throughout Hillsborough. Additionally, we took part in a river clean up for The Watershed along with some other Girl Scouts. After that, we contacted the organizer of the river clean up, from The Watershed, via Zoom to explore the effects of pollution and the environment. Overall, from this project, I gained more knowledge about New Jersey and its environment, as well as skills like public speaking, teaching, blogging, and building relationships. 

The goal of this Take Action Project was to highlight the significance of taking care of the environment and keeping it clean. There is much more litter in the environment than one may think; however, it is crucial to ensure to refrain from littering as well as to reduce litter. Hopefully, this project will inspire others to keep the environment clean and to always clean up after themselves, especially when they are out. Even the smallest of efforts can make a drastic difference.

10/11/20: Willow Road Complex (Gunja)

 Name: Gunja

Date: October 11th, 2020

Location: Willow Road Complex/ Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Parks Normal Uses: 

• Basketball court used for basketball

Time Spent: 1.5 hours

Expected Trash Type:

• Plastic bottles

• Cigarettes

• Food wrappers

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• Construction debris

• A big overflowing dumpster that was knocked over

• A JUUL device

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• People using the Baseball fields

• The knocked over, overflowing dumpster

• Previous baseball fields

                

Ideas for Future Cleanups:

• Bring something to carry the trash bags easier

12/6/20: Skillman Park (Gunja)

 Name: Gunja

Date: December 6th, 2020

Location: Skillman Park/130 Main Blvd, Montgomery, NJ 08558

Parks Normal Uses: 

Trail used for:

• Walking

• Running

• Biking

Total Trash Weight (lbs): 2.3 lbs

Time Spent: 1.5 hours

Expected Trash Type:

• Plastic bottles

• Food/candy wrappers

• A ball

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• A balloon

• Bag of fertilizer

• Sand bag

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• People using the trails for walking, running, and biking

Ideas for Future Cleanups:

• Make sure to check the weather

11/17/20: Woodfield Park and Mr. C's Ballfields (Gunja)

 Name: Gunja

Date: November 17th, 2020

Location: Woodfield Park and Mr. C’s Ballfields/154 Beekman Lane, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Parks Normal Uses: 

• softball/soccer/tennis

• Playground for children to play

• Walking trail for walking

Total Trash Weight (lbs): 15.2 lbs

Time Spent: 1 hour

Expected Trash Type:

• food wrappers/water bottles

• Cigarettes

• Plastic bags

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• diapers

• Tennis balls

• a lighter

• Metal debris

• Sandbags 

• Yellow spectator chair (found in the woods)

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• softball/soccer/ tennis practices

• People walking on the trail

• Children on the playgrounds

Photos:

11/18/20: Montgomery Veterans Park (Gunja)

 Name: Gunja 

Date: November 18th, 2020

Location: Montgomery Veterans Park/ 235 Harlington Rd, Montgomery, NJ 08502

Parks Normal Uses: 

• softball/soccer/basketball

• Playground for children to play

• Walking trail for walking

• 
  

Total Trash Weight (lbs): 4.6 lbs

Time Spent: 3 hours

Expected Trash Type:

• food wrappers/water bottles

• Cigarettes

• Plastic bags

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• Sports gear (part of a helmet)

• Halloween decoration

• An envelope, cell phone charger, and a toy

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• softball/soccer/basketball practices

• People walking on the trail

• Children on the playgrounds

Photos:

12/24/20: Harvey J. Inman Park (Gunja)

 Name: Gunja

Date: December 24th, 2020

Location: Harvey J. Inman Park/ 290 Leupp Lane, Franklin, NJ 08873

Parks Normal Uses: 

• Tennis courts used for playing tennis

• Playground for children to play

• Pavilion for parties or to sit

• Basketball courts for basketball

• Baseball/softball fields

Total Trash Weight (lbs): 16.3 lbs

Time Spent: 2.5 hours

Expected Trash Type:

• Plastic bottles

• Food/candy wrappers

• Fast food drink cups and food waste

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• Glass bottles

• Vaping device

• Cigars

• Clothes

• “Goofy String”

• Drug product

Compared to the parks in Hillsborough, a lot of the trash was found in clusters. Most of the trash found at Inman Park was found on one side of the park. At least half of the trash we picked up was caught in an area of trees, and other plants.  The other half came from all around the park. Not much trash was found near the tennis courts or the playground, although you would expect there to be trash near it since it would be used by the people who visit the park. 

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• Parties at the pavilion

• Picnics

• Children on the playground

• People using the basketball/tennis courts and baseball/softball fields

11/14/20: Amsterdam Road (Gunja)

Name: Gunja

Date: November 14th, 2020

Event: Hillsborough Township LitterCon 

Location: Amsterdam Road/ Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Parks Normal Uses: 

• Road for cars

• Walking and running (on the sidewalks)

• Softball field and playground (on this road)

Total Trash Weight (lbs): 51.7 lbs

Time Spent: 4 hours

Expected Trash Type:

• Plastic bottles

• Cigarettes

• Food wrappers

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• A whole trash bag filled with empty alcohol bottles

• Cigar box

• Metal debris

• Swimming pool liner

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• Cars driving by on the road

• People using the sidewalks

• Household garbage/recycling that blew out of their containers (from the neighborhoods nearby)

• Parties

Ideas for Future Cleanups:

• Bring more trash bag so the bags don't overflow

11/27/20: Neighborhood Cleanup (Colleen)

Name: Colleen 

Date of Cleanup: November 27th, 2020

Location: My Neighborhood

Normal Uses: 

• Residential area

Total Trash Weight (lbs): 54 pounds

Time Spent: 1.5 hours

Expected Trash Type:

• Food waste

• One-use plastics 

Found Trash Types (unexpected):

• Shoes

• Wheels to a wagon

Where the Litter may be Coming From: 

• Vehicles throwing trash out their windows

• Garbage truck blow-aways

Interesting things I noticed:

• The closer we got to the road, the dirtier it was. 

• Despite only covering a short distance, there were over 50 pounds of trash. That is concerning in comparison to other parks, where the entirety of the park’s trash weighed 20-30 pounds. 

12/23/20: Summary of Our Silver Award (Colleen)

 Name: Colleen

Date: December 23st, 2020

Summary

Throughout all the cleanups, I have learned more about human tendencies: in myself and others. For some, if one way is easier but harmful and the other is difficult but helpful, they will choose the harmful. It is ingrained in society to take the easier path, despite the consequences. During this project, I discovered how much I want society to stop thinking about themselves and focus on the world before it’s too late. It is breaking down and no one has prevented it. There are groups that have gained traction and still are. It is like the snowball effect: it builds upon itself as more and more people join. For example, my partner for this, and I talked with Hillsborough Clean Communities and The Watershed about our project and the environment in general. We joined Hillsborough Clean Communities for their “Littercon” event across Hillsborough. Further, we contributed to a river clean up with fellow Girl Scouts for The Watershed. Later, we contacted someone from The Watershed via zoom to delve into the effects of pollution and the environment. From these encounters I have learned that because New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states, there is an overabundance of pollution/litter. From their point of view, they discovered ways to diminish the environment’s litter intake. It helped us have a deeper understanding of the environment and the effects of littering. In general, I gained skills such as public speaking, blogging, and building relationships. 

Our Take Action Project will shed light on the importance of cleaning up the environment. It demonstrates how magnanimous cleaning up the environment is, and it will show how much litter there actually is in the environment. Our Take Action project will, hopefully, encourage others to go outside for an hour or two and pick up garbage. Whether it is your neighborhood or a park, it will not go unnoticed and will have a positive impact on the world. 

Tips:

1. Don’t procrastinate - Some girls in my troop, including myself, waited until the last minute to finish our projects. To limit the stress from the project, I would suggest planning ahead and distributing your time wisely. The more time spent at the start diminishes the worries of not having enough hours completed at the end. 

2. Find something you are passionate about and branch out from it - For example, if you are a zealot in animals, you could do create an adoption website for a nearby animal shelter, etc. The more passionate you are about the project, the less it will feel like a job to accomplish. You shouldn’t feel forced into doing it: you have to want to complete the work. 

3. Reach out - Send emails to the people of the community, or just reach out to other people in general. Getting people involved in your project may spark something in others to continue living in a beneficial way.