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Sunbury river cleanup draws more than 200 volunteers; organizers urge consideration of local climate study
Summary
Organizers reported more than 200 volunteers and substantial debris removal at the annual Sunbury river cleanup and asked the council to consider a free local climate study; the city presented an award to the lead organizer.
Organizers of Sunbury’s annual river cleanup told the Sunbury City Council the event drew more than 200 volunteers and removed thousands of pounds of debris, and they urged the council to consider a local climate study if it is offered for free.
The cleanup, organizers said, covered multiple sites around the river and included recycling efforts that yielded metal and numerous tires. Danielle, the cleanup organizer, told the council, “we had over 200 volunteers” and reported separate totals for metal recycled and overall collected material.
Danielle said volunteers recovered what she reported as 1,500 pounds of metal and a total haul she stated as 13,860 pounds. She said the cleanup reached parts of the river some residents had never seen and that the effort brought positive attention to Sunbury; she noted a journalist traveled from Ithaca after finding the event online. The organizer also thanked the city for providing dumpsters and equipment and said the effort involved students, families and local businesses.
On the council dais, a city official presented Danielle with a “City of Sunbury Caring” award in recognition of the event. During public remarks tied to the cleanup, Danielle asked the council to “give [the local climate study] a try” if the study is available at no cost, saying she did not want the opportunity dismissed as political.
The cleanup organizer said volunteers and partnering groups plan follow-up activities, including further community engagement at the boat launch and more regular cleanup events. The council did not take formal action on the climate-study request during the meeting.
Details reported by organizers: the event included a substantial amount of recycled metal and numerous tires, participation from local businesses and students, and community partners who logged hundreds of volunteer hours toward related cemetery and park projects.
A copy of the photo board the organizer left with the council showed volunteers, collection totals and site work; organizers said they will continue outreach to increase use of the riverfront and neighborhood involvement.
