From The Tribune staff reports
PINSON – Project Litter Gitter partners installed a “litter gitter” device in Beaver Creek at Pinson Bicentennial Park on Wednesday, July 12th
This is the first litter gitter to be installed in Pinson and in the Turkey Creek watershed. The Jefferson County Commission is sponsoring the device for one year.
According to the Freshwater Land Trust (FLY), litter gitters are in-stream trash collection devices used to intercept floating litter from stormwater runoff. FLT is leading a coordinated partnership effort called “Project Litter Gitter” to reduce litter in Central Alabama by installing litter gitters in local waterways. Alabama-based company Osprey Initiative installs and maintains the devices, removes trash, shares inventory data from the devices, and recycles as much collected litter as possible.
“Our state’s native species are a big part of our region’s uniqueness, and Turkey Creek is especially unique,” said Katie Holmes, Outreach and Communications Coordinator at FLT. “Alabama is one of the top five most biodiverse states in the country and holds the number one ranking for freshwater biodiversity. In fact, three endangered species of native darters live in Turkey Creek, upstream of where the new litter gitter is located. These fish can’t be found anywhere else in the world, making it even more critical to remove trash from their habitat.”
Since the first litter gitter was installed in December 2019, over 23,000 pounds of litter have been removed from Central Alabama. The majority of the trash collected has been polystyrene foam containers (such as Styrofoam) and plastic bottles.
“We hope these litter gitters serve as a reminder to people that everything they drop on the ground ends up in our waterways and, ultimately, in the Gulf of Mexico. While we are thrilled with Project Litter Gitter’s success, including the addition of the first trash collection device in Turkey Creek, we look forward to the day when these devices are no longer needed,” said Rusha Smith, Executive Director of Freshwater Land Trust.