Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 21, 1991 TAG: 9104210207
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
There were countless beer bottles of various brands. "Old Milwaukee - the 40-ounce bottles - have been pretty popular," reported volunteer Stacy Harnden. "And the little-bitty Buds. One bottle of Guinness Stout."
There was a sofa.
And a toilet.
"We thought it might make a nice planter," said volunteer Libby Howze of the latter.
Saturday was cleanup day again.
Broomin' & Bloomin' - the annual event in which volunteers fan out across Montgomery County to attack filthy roadsides and illegal dumps - generated more than 250 tons of litter in this its eighth year, organizers said.
One dump alone yielded 12 dump-truck loads, said Michael Connelly, transit manager for the town of Blacksburg and a Broomin' & Bloomin' organizer. Blacksburg donated some eight buses for the day to take the volunteers from place to place.
About 875 people participated this year, said Robert Blanton, co-chairman of the event.
"The turnout was heartening," said Connelly of the volunteers, who ignored gloomy skies to pluck trash from the weeds and muck. "This was a cool day, but at least it didn't rain on us," like it did last year.
Broomin' & Bloomin' was, organizers indicated, a success. Some five illegal dumps and miles of roadside were cleaned up, said Blanton.
Among the litter found was a toaster, anti-freeze, power-steering fluid, bleach, furniture, cars, a blow dryer, and an alarm clock.
Blanton said the volunteers were instructed to leave any toxic wastes or dead animals they found alone.
The cleanup, the result of nearly a year of planning, involved an assortment of clubs, civic and church groups and Virginia Tech, organizers said. A number of private companies donated trucks to haul the garbage as well as heavy equipment to move it.
Also, many businesses donated money for Broomin' & Bloomin' T-shirts and food. The Virginia Department of Highways contributed safety vests, said Tom Greene, part of the Broomin' & Bloomin' management team. Montgomery Regional Hospital donated first-aid kits - "Which so far we haven't had to use," Greene said Saturday afternoon.
One group of volunteers also put up road signs to warn motorists of the cleanup in progress, Greene said.
Afterward, the volunteers were treated to a picnic at the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department on County Drive.
On the light side, there were awards.
Aaron Limoges won a certificate for the most unusual garbage - he found a dagger. The Blacksburg Rotary Club found the piece of garbage farthest from its point of origin - a license plate from Ohio. Tech's APO fraternity won for having the highest turnout of volunteers. APO members also found the heaviest trash - two junked motorcycles.
The underlying theme, though, was that trash is no joke.
"This whole terrain is Karst," said Howze, naming the cracked limestone rock bed that underlies much of the area and can funnel surface contaminates straight to ground-water supplies. "So when we find anti-freeze and other questionable chemicals - it goes right into the water."
by CNB