Keep Manatee Beautiful gets ready for Great America Cleanup event this weekend

MANATEE -- Each year, thousands of pounds of trash are left on Manatee County roads and waterways, and each year thousands of volunteers converge into those areas to haul it away.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m. until noon, armies of volunteers will once again participate in the Great America Cleanup organized locally by Keep Manatee Beautiful. Because annual events and programs like adopt-a-road are crucial to countering the affects of careless people and the environmental damage they can cause by littering, educating people on personal responsibility is just as important. Keep Manatee Beautiful Executive Director Ingrid McClellan said people who litter are not only affecting the environment and wildlife, but themselves.

"Manatee County will only look as good as we leave it or make it," said McClellan. "If people want to live a high quality of life, then take personal responsibility to make it that way. It's personal responsibility versus the mentality of thinking others will pick up after you at the beach or 'I pay my taxes, they'll clean up after me.' They should clean up after themselves because they are affecting where they live and their own quality of life, as well as others who are visiting the spot where they just littered."

Education is a focus and youth volunteers will receive an activities book called "50 Ways to Go Green." Adults will receive brochures showing how long it takes for various trash items to decompose. Examples include items like a six-pack holder that takes 100 years to decompose and balloon fragments can remain for more than six months or worse, end up being eaten by local wildlife.

In 2015, 2,230 Manatee County volunteers collected 19,817 pounds of trash and an additional 5,023 pounds of recyclables while cleaning 307 miles of roads and highways and 218 miles of shoreline. This year's theme is "Clean Your Block Party."

McClellan said Saturday's theme is designed "to inspire behavior change at home" and provide individuals with tools and education materials necessary to apply best practices in their communities. For more information or to schedule a "Clean Your Block Party," call 941-795-8272 or email keep@manateebeautiful.com.

Volunteers for this weekend's event should arrive at their locations with gloves, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes. Trash bags and drinks will be provided. There are several locations where volunteers are needed and will meet at the following places:

Anna Maria Island and Village of Cortez:

-- Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.

-- Kingfish Boat Ramp on State Road 64 West.

-- F.I.S.H. Preserve, 11601 Cortez Road W.

City of Bradenton:

-- Historic Ware's Creek cleanup will begin from the Bradenton Woman's Club, 1705 Manatee Ave. W.

City of Palmetto:

-- Palmetto City Hall, 518 Eighth Ave. W.

North and east Manatee County:

-- Terra Ceia on U.S. 19 at the northwest corner of the bridge by Sea Hut's Crab Trap.

-- Ray's Canoe Hideaway, 1289 Hagle Park Road off Upper Manatee Road. First arrivals will receive a free boat launch and use of a canoe to clean the river.

-- Old Braden River Historical Society at King Ranch Manatee, 4630 60th St. E. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own canoe, kayak, or power boat to clean the river.

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Keep Manatee Beautiful gets ready for Great America Cleanup event this weekend ."