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for larger version       Sanitation Campaign Rolls Out New Beach Cleanup Poster
The Department of Sanitation officials, representatives from the American Littoral Society’s (ALS) local chapter and the Jamaica Bay Guardian joined together on West 20 Road this week to announce that new posters will be plastered on 500 garbage trucks for an ad campaign seeking beach cleanup volunteers. The ALS hopes the poster, designed pro bono by artist Terry Clarke, will encourage more people to volunteer for the cleanup, taking place on September 17 at more than 300 beaches statewide. Last year, ALS said more than 7,000 New Yorkers came out to lend a hand and collected about 215,000 pounds of garbage at 312 different sites. This year, which marks the 20th Annual International Coastal Cleanup, ALS is hoping to get even more people involved. “This is the first poster we have had,” said Barbara Toborg, from the Broad Channel chapter of the ALS. Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty was also on hand for the announcement. “I want to thank Barbara Toborg,” Doherty said, “I’m hoping this brings more volunteers.” Con Edison helped by funding the printing cost of the posters. “We’re happy to be a part of the project,” said Ron Delaney, Public Affairs Manager of Strategic Partnerships with Con Ed. “It gives us a chance to give back to the community.” Also in attendance were Vito Turso, Sanitation Deputy Commissioner for Community Affairs, Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian and ALS Beach Cleanup Coordinator, Barbara Cohen. The cleanup program, which started 20 years ago, began with only four beach sites. There are now more than 350 statewide. The volunteers, Toborg said, are very dedicated – even in the darkest of days in the wake of September 11 she was “very surprised with how many people showed up to help, [I think] it made them more eager to do something.” For those who are interested in being a part of the cleanup, the ALS urges people to visit their website at www.alsnyc.org or call (800) 449-0790. “The most important aspect of this is education,” Cohen explained, “people need to change their methods of disposing their trash, and hopefully this will show them why.”
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