Volunteers are needed this weekend for “The Butt Stops Here,” a cleanup effort that’s one of several events scheduled for national Make A Difference Day.
Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at David Douglas Park, 1016 N. Garrison Road in Vancouver. Small groups will then fan out to parks and public areas in Clark County in search of cigarette butts.
People are encouraged to bring their own gloves, but some pairs will be available.
Volunteers will return to David Douglas Park at noon for food and prizes. The person who collects the most will win a prize; butts will be measured by weight.
Teams can consist of up to five people. A team can choose a park to clean up. Team uniforms would be fun but are not mandatory.
Sign up at parkhero.org, a consolidated park and recreation volunteer website for the county and city.
About 95 percent of a cigarette filter consists of a plastic that can take years to biodegrade. Discarded butts are full of toxic chemicals that can be carried by storm runoff into streams, rivers and wetlands.
Other “Make a Difference Day” activities open to the public include:
• Plant vegetation for a bank stabilization project at Leverich Park. Call the Vancouver Watersheds Alliance at 360-852-9189.
• Remove blackberry vines, spread chips and make other improvements at Foley Park in Felida with Urban Abundance and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Call Blake Jones with Clark County Environmental Services at 360-397-2121, ext. 4300.
