BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Almost 100 volunteers descended on Monocacy Creek on Saturday, cleaning up garbage and picking up 2 to 3 tons of litter.
- About 100 volunteers participated in the annual spring cleaning of Monocacy Creek
- Organizers estimate 2 to 3 tons of garbage was picked up
- The organization, along with other agencies, have held fall and spring clean-ups since 2015
“A whole lot of trash was collected along the creek and the Monocacy Way Trail, from Illick’s Mill Park down to Union Boulevard,” said Jose DeJesus, vice president of the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association, or MCWA.
While we have no way to measure the actual weight collected, I’d estimate it at around 2 to 3 tons.Jose DeJesus, vice president of the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association
The MCWA has held spring and fall stream clean-ups since 2015.
It said 2,000 to 2,500 pounds of garbage was collected at last year’s event.
This spring’s event was co-led with the city’s Environmental Advisory Council. About 90 volunteers showed up to help.
'Lots of camaradarie'
A bulk of the litter collected Saturday was at an area used by unsheltered residents below Burnside Plantation, as well as other sites along the trail between Schoenersville Road and Illick’s Mill, DeJesus said.
City police brought social workers to engage with those unsheltered, he added.
“The City of Bethlehem public works guys are picking up all the collected garbage today,” he said.
In addition to the MCWA, the city Environmental Advisory Council and police, other event sponsors include the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, Stitch Fix of Lehigh Valley, Trout Unlimited Monocacy Chapter, Rotary Club of Bethlehem Morning Star, ADP and Guardian Life.
“And a bunch of individual folks that just wanted to help showed up to help,” DeJesus said. “So the outreach was great, as were the attitudes and enthusiasm. Lots of camaraderie.”
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