Christine Kelly
Guest contributor
Last month, over one thousand pounds of trash and two hundred pounds of recyclables were removed from creeks in the local area. All in one day.
Coastal Cleanup Day, which was held on Sept. 15, is the largest volunteer run effort in the state.
When combined with International Coastal Cleanup, it is part of the largest global day of volunteer work.
Although many students may not have been aware of the event, Las Positas did its part to help out, with four campus organizations volunteering their time in various cleanup locations.
The Sustainability Club, Horticulture Club, Biology Club and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), led by Professor Catherine Suarez, all participated in the event.
Volunteers at the sites where LPC groups participated helped to collect almost half of the total amount, making a considerable impact on the local effort as a whole.
That is exactly what CGI intends to do, they have adopted a local waterway “hot spot,” where they will continue to visit and help to restore the area with students and members from the community.
Suarez has officially adopted the site and shares it with LPC.
“The water is riddled with cans, bottles, very green algae and old blankets,” Suarez said. The debris is problematic as the creek flows into the ocean.
Suarez explained that their “site is a bit unique because it is used by several homeless people as their home, including a least one child.”
CGI has organized another cleanup event on Oct. 27 for National Make a Difference Day and welcomes volunteers to join them in their continued restoration efforts.
The event will meet at In-N-Out in Livermore at 9 a.m. and will run for three hours. Students will be split into teams of three and contribute to the cleanup effort.
Interested students and staff can contact Suarez, adviser to CGI for further details.
A lot of work is still needed to restore the creek system but the good news is that the law of cause and effect is on people’s side, even as busy students.
Less trash means less need for cleanup. So, even if one can’t make it to the cleanup events, they can still make a difference.
Choosing not to litter, using products with less packaging, taking advantage of the new water refilling stations on campus and choosing reusable products over disposable whenever possible.
Little things can make a large difference.
And LPC students can do their part one water bottle at a time — or should we say one less bottle.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Volunteers should meet at the In-N-Out parking lot in Livermore and come dressed in long pants and closed-toe shoes.
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