A lot of the trash that ends up in our waterways doesn’t start there.

It starts along roadsides, curbs, and overgrown edges where it builds up over time.

After vegetation was cleared in this area, a huge amount of hidden litter was exposed. In roughly 1,000 square feet, we pulled 105 pounds of trash in just one cleanup.

And this stretch is uphill from the Little Cuyahoga, meaning a lot of what gets left here can eventually blow or wash toward the river.

Special thanks to Councilwoman Sharon L. Connor for supporting efforts that help protect cleaner waterways and stronger neighborhoods here in Ward 10.

And shoutout to my brother Jim Emanuele for going full neighborhood watchdog and spotting a muddy runoff issue near a project site before more of it had a chance to move downhill. – by Johnny Ringo