Renew Our Rivers rakes in trash

Renew Our Rivers began as a community river cleanup project in 2000 by 20 Alabama Power employees in Gadsden.

Since then more than 117,000 volunteers have joined the effort by removing 15.5 million tons of trash from southeastern waterways in several southern states.

Renew Our Rivers began in Demopolis in 2005. Jesse Johnson, with the Alabama Power Green County Steam Plant, is coordinating the local 2019 Renew Our Rivers to be held this weekend. Speaking to the Demopolis Rotary Club Wednesday, he said the local project is one of 30 cleanups planned throughout Alabama along eight rivers.

Along with the expected bottles, cans, bags and other detritus, local cleanup crews have hauled in boats, tires, coolers, appliances and even a dentist chair. In the 15 years since the project began in Demopolis, volunteers have recovered 232 tons of trash.

Whenever possible, Johnson said, the items are recycled to cut down on landfill usage.