Forest Clean Up

US Forest Service spearheads annual “Spring Sweep” clean up day

By Chanda Morrison

March 25, 2023

Community members joined local FS Ranger Districts to tackle the growing problem of litter within our national forest.

Volunteers met at the Highway 76 Chattooga River Access point (aka Bull Sluice parking lot). People signed waivers and were given orange safety vests, trash bags, plastic gloves and garbage grabbers.

It was a rainy morning that turned into a lovely spring day. Only a handful of people showed up to help. I was there with my eleven-year old daughter…who could think of numerous more enjoyable ways to spend the day…but she was a good sport and willing to pick up nasty garbage for 3 hours. (The promise of getting lunch at the taco truck in Long Creek kept her going!)

People set out in various directions to clean up different areas. One litter crew headed out by boats and kayaks to pick up litter along the banks of the Chattooga River.

Another crew set out to clean up litter on the Georgia side of the river in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

A third crew tackled a dumpsite within the Sumter National Forest in South Carolina.

My daughter and I were on Sumter clean up crew. We were with Howard Morrison (no relation) and Carter Collins from the Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Meg Corley from the Chattooga River Ranger District, and one other volunteer named Kiley. Our small–but mighty!–crew of six made a dent in a site that had recently been reported to the Forest Service. Some trashy people have apparently been dumping huge amounts of garbage at one of the scenic overlooks along Highway 107. Dozens of broken bags of trash are strewn along a mountainside and there’s a wet mattress ruining the scenic setting.

We got what we could that day and were very fortunate not to have been injured. We battled blackberry and briar bushes. It was tough lugging heavy bags up hill and old tires were especially difficult to deal with. The terrain was steep and dangerous with glass shards from hundreds of beer bottles that had broken on their way down the mountain. Even though it was hard, depressing and filthy, I couldn’t help feeling proud to have participated in the clean up effort.

The only way we’ll get a handle on litter is to do what we can. Any amount of trash picked up is better than none!

How much trash?

Between the South Carolina and Georgia dumpsites–in just a few hours–volunteers filled a 10-yard dumpster full to the brim. The crew in Georgia pulled a couch and a freezer out of the woods. Thanks!!

Fun (?) Fact:

Carter found a potato! We were amazed that this whole potato looked good enough to eat! It had been sandwiched between several layers of torn trash bags for who knows how long? It was in perfect condition–no eyes spouting nor was it decomposed at all.

This lends credence to the fact that composting is a better way of dealing with food waste since it doesn’t break down well mixed among trash in plastic garbage bags.