Our 2019 Project Clean Stream Results Are In...
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Last month, the
Jennifer Branch Conservation Association
(JBCA) of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC) sponsored Richard Keller from Baltimore County Solid Waste Disposal to speak at Seven Oaks Senior Center to discuss the do’s and don’ts of recycling. We learned a lot!
Baltimore and Harford counties’ single stream recycling gets sorted at the
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
in Cockeysville. From start to finish, the process for a load of recyclables only takes three minutes. Did you know that those “recycle” numbers on products have nothing to do with whether they are recyclable? Those numbers simply indicate the TYPE of plastic used.
The types of materials MRF processes are:
paper
,
steel
,
aluminum
,
glass
,
#1 and #2 plastics
, and
mixed rigid plastic
. We are fortunate some reclaimed plastics are bought locally for reuse and paper goes to an international market. The MRF paper is considered highly desirable for its quality; it’s an industry standard.
If you don’t recycle and want to start, or promote recycling to others, focus on
- Aluminum cans – a profitable market
- #1 plastic (e.g. water bottles)
- #2 plastic (e.g. milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles)
- Wide mouth plastic containers
- Paper, especially corrugated cardboard.
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We’ve all heard the phrase “If you see something, say something” in the context of public safety, but did you know that this also extends to potential hazards in our Baltimore County waterways?
Register for our
Adopt-A-Stream training and become a Stream Captain
with GVC. You will learn to identify hazards, monitor waterway health, and keep a section of stream clean of trash. Our next training is
Saturday, July 6th
, 10 am to 1 pm, at Cromwell Valley Park in Parkville.
Even if you're not a Stream Captain, you can still speak up for our streams! If you notice a debris jam blocking a stream flow, erosion from a construction site, a dam caused by a downed tree, or similar concerns, you can report them:
- To the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (DEPS) by calling 410-887-3733 (voicemail available during non-office hours)
- On the BaltCoGo website
- Using the BaltCoGo app (available for Android and iOS). The app allows you to submit the location of the hazard using your smartphone’s GPS capability.
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Upcoming Calendar of Events
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Just in time for hot summer days! Rain Barrels are an easy way to capture water to irrigate your lawn and garden beds. Our next rain barrel workshop will be
Saturday, June 29th
(10 am - 12 pm) at Cromwell Valley Park. We currently have blue barrels for sale. Each barrel costs $60. We offer a reduction for current GVC donors ($50/barrel) and residents of our
Clear Creeks Project
area ($30/barrel).
Click here for more information.
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Microplastics are an emerging threat to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants. Any plastic in our waterways is capable of breaking down into increasingly smaller pieces. Just think of a disintegrating Styrofoam cup. Preliminary studies have found microplastics in tidal and non-tidal sections of the Bay. While scientists have just begun to research the impact of microplastics in our watershed, we can certainly take action today!
- Reduce your use of single-use plastic cups, utensils, and other convenience items.
- Participate in stream clean-up events
- Write letters to your representatives stating your concern about plastic pollution
Did you know that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosts a monthly "Trash Talk" at its headquarters in Annapolis?
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Get inspiration to make your landscape beautiful and beneficial for the Chesapeake Bay. The Jennifer Branch Conservation Association of the GVC is hosting a
FREE Bay-Wise Garden Tour
on Sunday, July 28, from 2 - 3:30. Visit the grounds of Baltimore County Game and Fish Protective Association in Carney to learn about rain barrels, Bayscape, and rain gardens. Light refreshments will be provided.
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