
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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To report
environmental
emergencies
only, call the
Illinois Emergency
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800-782-7860
217-782-7860
(24 hrs/day)

Environmental Progress - Summer 2003

10 Sites Yield 1,000 Bags of Trash

15th Ohio River Sweep Sunny, Successful

Poster drawn by youngster showing broom sweeping the river bottom of trash..

A youngster's view of the Ohio River Sweep.
Larger Image
(JPG 60K file)

More than 500 volunteers rounded up more than 1,000 bags of debris at 10 designated sites along 133 miles of Ohio River shoreline in Illinois during the 15th Ohio River Sweep on June 21.

The Sweep is organized yearly by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission along the entire length of the river. In Illinois, it is coordinated by the IEPA. Byron Marks of the IEPA's Marion regional office serves as Illinois coordinator.

Debris collected runs the gamut of the lost or tossed, from tow ropes to tires. Volunteers get free tee-shirts and at many sites are treated to picnics or pizza parties by local Sweep supporters.

Trash collected is recycled when possible, or properly disposed of.