EARTH DAY: With today being Earth Day, we have some ideas for how to celebrate.
Goodwill Industries of North Central PA shared advice for being friendly to the Earth today.
A press release from the group read, “Goodwill encourages people in the area to take a few minutes this Earth Day to collect items they no longer need and donate them to Goodwill. Small actions, such as cleaning out closets or kitchen cupboards, can make a big difference when it comes to the environment.”
Additionally, Goodwill Industries International and Keep America Beautiful worked together a few years ago to create the “Give and Go!” pilot program, a campaign promoted to college students the idea they should donate unwanted items when moving from their dorms.
At the McKean County Conservation District, employee Jody Groshek suggested that, with the warmer weather here, it’s the perfect time to clean up your properties. She offered tips to keep waterways clear when picking up yards.
“As you do, be sure your yard wastes (leaves, branches, gravel and cinders from raking, pet waste, etc.) don’t end up in a nearby ditch, stream, or waterway,” Jody wrote. “Even very small, often dry, streams and tributaries will carry non-point source pollution to larger rivers and lakes. Salt, silt, and bacterial contamination can cause great problems for our local waters and aquatic life.
“A primary focus of the McKean County Conservation District is protecting our county’s water resources from pollutants, erosion, and sedimentation,” she said, explaining how important waterways are to local wildlife and residents.
“Remember that everything flows downstream; so pollution, sedimentation, or disturbance of a very small tributary can affect the larger watershed,” Jody said. “Never dig in or alter a stream, no matter how small it may seem. These activities may require a permit. Don’t dump any foreign substances in a waterway, ditch, or storm drain, this includes wastewater, cleaning residue, chemicals, oil or gas, grass clippings, etc.”
She also pointed to the importance of stormwater management, as snow melt and rain can turn into flooding. Information on stormwater management techniques can be found on the Conservation District’s website at www.mckeancountypa.org/Departments/Conservation_District/Index.aspx.
