SAVANNAH Ga. () — The Savannah Riverkeepers have partnered with the City of Savannah and other local organizations to create a litter trap system.
In the city, there are currently seven litter traps placed in various water canals and rivers. These traps, as explained by the Savannah Riverkeepers, are specifically crafted to capture pollution that comes from stormwater.
“We aim to collaborate with the city to pinpoint some of the sources of litter in these locations,” stated Cloe Lemaire, the Savannah River Reuse System Outreach Coordinator.
“A number of these traps are situated near gas stations, which are prone to wind-blown debris. Stormwater significantly contributes to the movement of trash through these regions,” she added.
The Savannah Riverkeepers described the litter traps to be similar to a buoy in a pool that separates the deep and the shallow end.
The traps have eight inches of curtain that helps catch the surface litter as it’s floating on the water.
The City of Savannah approved the placement of cameras around each litter trap to monitor the buildup.
Lemaire said this is just the start as they want to continue to implement different waste management programs throughout the Coastal Empire.
“I think Savannah is a great city for it. We’re kind of just small enough and with the open container zone, if we could at least have people drinking their open beverages in reusable cups, it would eliminate a ridiculous amount of trash,” Lemaire said.
The Savannah Riverkeeper said they continuously monitor each trap and usually clear them out at the end of each month.
However, with heavy rain, the newly implemented camera will help them monitor the litter and determine if the traps need to be cleaned out sooner.
