Paul Colletti
Mike Ochoa, and his son, Isaiah, roll discarded tires out of the woods on Campbells Island and into a growing pile of garbage on Saturday morning, August 22. Saturday marked the second time that the Ochoa family has volunteered with the Xstream Cleanup effort to collect garbage around the Quad-Cities. The Ochoas collected more than seventy tires in the single area of the island where they worked on Saturday. More photos from this shoot
Paul Colletti
Scott Munts wipes sweat from his forehead after rolling dozens of tires into a large dumpster on Campbells Island in East Moline Aug. 22, 2009. Old tires were the bulk of the garbage items collected from Campbells Island during the Xstream Cleanup held Saturday. Mr. Munts has volunteered with the Xstream Cleanup for six years and says Campbells Island is one of the places that most needed cleaning. Hundreds of tires were pulled from the woods on the island. More photos from this shoot
Many hands make light work, as the saying goes, and nowhere is that more evident than the annual Xstream Cleanup in the Quad-Cities, to be held this year on Aug. 14.
I was among last year's 3,204 hands -- or 1,602 volunteers -- which picked up and pulled out a whopping184,271 pounds of debris from area waterways and illegal dumping sites at 45 locations across the area.
According to Xstream organizers, we worked4,852.25 hours and collectively gathered 3,998 bags of trash, 4,239 tires, 18 appliances, 31 bicycles, 28 pieces of furniture, five televisions and nine mattresses. This was the equivalent of 80,180 pounds of trash, 101,736 pounds of tires, 1,350 pounds of appliances, 75 pounds of televisions, 225 pounds of mattresses and 725 pounds of bicycles. That's a lot of junk -- which is no longer fouling our rivers, creeks and gullies.
I've been a site organizer for the past four years, but this year I'm going to take a break from organizing and instead get down and dirty -- or more Xstream -- as a member of one of the site crews. Not that I didn't get dirty before -- I just want to get dirtier.
Xstream Cleanup began in 2004 as a way to spend one day cleaning upcreeks, drainage ways and sections of the Mississippi and Rock rivers. The event -- originally suggested by Living Lands & Waters founder Chad Pregracke -- is supported by a number of sponsors and is organized byrepresentatives from the cities of Bettendorf, Davenport, East Moline, LeClaire, Moline and Rock Island, as well as representatives from several organizations and businesses.
While it is frustrating and discouraging to see what people have done to foul our lands and rivers, it is equally uplifting and encouraging to be among the people who reverse those environmental wrongs. I have seen scout troops, college students, families, employee groups, teenagers and senior citizens come together year after year to get the job done. All are passionate about the task at hand, and in many cases see a stubborn, rusty, half-buried oil drum or appliance as a personal affront, doing whatever it takes to dig, scrape and pull the offensive item from the earth. Along the way, they make fast friends, share many laughs and meet up to do it all over again the next year.
Of course, if you're not able or interested in dragging out the big stuff, there is plenty of trash lying all over to be picked up. Xstream organizers provide volunteers with options for light or heavy duty, depending on each person's ability and preference.
This year's event will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 14 at a variety of locations throughout Scott and Rock Island counties. If you're interested in helping out and don't mind getting a little (or a lot) dirty, here's what you need to know:
What to wear:Rubber boots or old gym shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirt. It's a good idea to use sunscreen and bug spray as well.
What's provided: Bags, gloves, and litter tongs. Depending on the site, organizers also may have rope and shovels for digging and hauling out large items. Bottled water and snacks also will be provided.
Xstream schwag: Volunteers receive a free Xstream T-shirt anda StudioOne Pass for River Roots Live, which will be held Aug. 20-21 in LeClaire Park, Davenport. The pass provides entry to the Figge Plaza viewing area.
How to sign up: Registration is done online at xstreamcleanup.org or by calling (563) 468-4218. Volunteers must register by Aug. 6 to be guaranteed a T-shirt. You'll be asked to choose light duty (litter pick-up and maintenance, lifting 30 pounds or less) or heavy duty (lifting of over 30 pounds, removing illegally dumped tires, etc.). You then will be asked to choose Iowa or Illinois, a city and a site within that city.
I've registered to volunteer at Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island. The park is one of my favorite places, and I'm eager to get Xstreamly dirty cleaning it up.
Xstream Cleanup 2010
this year's event will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug 14 at a variety of locations throughout Scott and Rock Island counties. If you're interested in helping out, here's what you need to know:
*What to wear: Rubber boots or old gym shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirt. It's a good idea to use sunscreen and bug spray as well.
*What's provided: Bags, gloves and litter tongs. Bottled water and snacks also will be provided.
*Xstream schwag: Volunteers receieve a free Xstream T-shirt and a StudioOne Pass for River Roots Live, which will be held Aug. 20-21 in LeClaire Park, Davenport.
*How to sign up: Registration is done online at xstreamcleanup.org or by calling (563) 468-4218. Volunteers must register by Aug. 6 to be guaranteed a T-shirt.
