James Island volunteers pick up trash

Clean Cities Sweep targets area roadways

A wig, bowling ball, Rollerblades, hubcap, blue plastic teeth and a baby doll head were just some of the items in the running for "most unusual litter" that cleanup volunteers found on James Island last week during the 2008 Clean Cities Sweep.

The piles of other types of garbage made the cleanup less amusing: cigarette boxes, foam plates, plastic cups, dirty diapers, beer bottles and needles.

"I've never seen such a mess in my life," said Lois Frech, one of thousands of volunteers around Charleston who cleaned up their neighborhoods during the week.

Jenny Peterson
The Journal

Resident Lois Frech pitches in to clean up Seaside Lane on James Island as part of the 2008 Clean Cities Sweep.

Keep Charleston Beautiful, a city of Charleston program, organized the cleanup to promote litter awareness.

The city provided bags, gloves and vests for volunteers. First Citizens Bank and Babb Law Firm were local sponsors on James Island.

Nearly 40 volunteers met Wednesday at James Island Town Hall, and during an eight-hour period filled 51 garbage bags with litter.

Volunteers cleaned several areas of the island, including the corner of Camp Road and Dills Bluff Road, Seaside Lane, Secessionville Road and Fort Johnson Road.

James Island Middle and Fort Johnson Middle school students also cleaned up their campuses that day. Members of Gold's Gym on Fort Johnson Road cleaned the area around their gym as well.

The amount of litter on Seaside Lane took volunteers by surprise.

"I had no idea," Frech said.

Armed with bug spray, seven volunteers scoured the side of the road, filling up so many bags that a few had to return to Town Hall to get more.

Volunteer Scott Sale said he was disappointed that Seaside Lane was in such terrible condition.

"Picking up trash in someone's front yard is asinine," Sale said.

Most of the trash was found on a vacant lot on Seaside Lane near Dills Bluff Road. Volunteer Greg Jackson said he thought the amount of trash there was a combination of litter and trash blown over from tipped-over trash cans.

"It's been (building) over time, and it's caught up now," he said.

"It hasn't been touched for so long," added volunteer Ellen Babb.

DeAnn Grayson, who works at First Citizens Bank, spearheaded this project by coordinating the volunteers. Many organizations helped with the effort, including Wal-Mart, which donated coolers of water, and Bradco Supply, a construction company that helped transport volunteers to different areas.

Charles Rhodes, emergency disaster coordinator with the town of James Island, also helped coordinate the volunteers and gather supplies, Grayson said.

She said she took on this project because of the huge amount of litter on James Island.

"We need enforcement; we have (litter) laws on the books," Grayson said. "I've been concerned about it for a while. It's one of my pet projects."

Grayson said she will help with cleanup again next year.

Frech said it was important for volunteers to pitch in.

"It's the right thing to do for James Island," she said.