A lot of respect for the dedication and power of volunteers ... and more than four tons of the "stuff" of our lives lying in the wrong places, leaching pollutants and clogging our streams, ruining our towns' beauty, and endangering wildlife. More than 370 volunteers participated in this year's N.C. Big Sweep in Orange County.

Volunteers picked up bottles, cans, cigarette butts, cups, wayward balls, food wrappers, household garbage, rusted bicycle frames, construction materials and more than 100 tires mostly from streams and recreation areas. They realized how much trash gets swept by heavy rains from streets and yards into storm drains and creeks. They were saddened that many people just don't care - but heartened that many more people DO care. Scouts and kids hunted for treasures and oddities and reveled in the number of full bags they collected. Adults pushed the limits on hauling out what they could, and most rejoiced to go home to warm showers and washing machines.

I would like to thank groups in Chapel Hill and Carrboro who made a true difference in cleaning up our community: Whole Foods Market for donating gift certificates to event leaders and whose team, led by engineer Chris Sandt, collected the most weight of trash and more than 33 tires from three different locations; Cub Scout Pack 39 which had the most volunteers of any group; TriBeta-UNC's Biology Honor Club; Binkley Baptist Youth Group; CHHS Blue Ribbon Mentor Group; Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association; Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department; Johnny Randall of the Morgan Creek Valley Alliance; Boy Scout Troops 505, 845, 39 and Venture Crew, and Estes Hills Odyssey of the Mind Team.

Special thanks go to Dr. Michael Menge of Chapel Hill, who has for years quietly picked up litter EVERY day on his 6 mile walk in town. In Northern Orange County special thanks go to Terry Griffen for the Eno River cleanup, Recreation and Parks for several park events, and Little River Regional Park.

Unfortunately, litter will persist. People will disrespect our community by dumping or littering; brains will not think; winds will blow bags, paper and wrappers; toys and ornaments from yards will wash into waterways; trucks will remain uncovered, allowing debris to fly out.

There are things you can do: Report dumping that you witness. Get license plates if you can. Adopt a roadway or a stream or recreation area. Cover your truck beds with a tarp. Use trash cans. Provide trash cans and recycling bins if you have an outdoor party. If you smoke, carry a pocket ashtray. Cigarette butts contain plastic and more than 165 carcinogenic compounds that harm wildlife. Carry a bag on walks: if you see litter, pick it up and throw it out or recycle it.

You don't have to wait until next fall's N.C. Big Sweep to pick up litter. But if you do, choose a day next September or October and get ready for your assignment. We'll need you!