Be Part of the Solution to Plastic Pollution in the Wissahickon
Making a palpable impact on our community, or on the world, can seem like a drop in the ocean.
Don’t get discouraged. On your next visit to the park, remember you’re part of a community making a huge impact on Wissahickon Valley Park. Last year, FOW staff and volunteers removed 16 tons of trash from the park! That’s eight elephants’ worth of litter, the majority of which is plastic.
Bottles, bags, food wrappers, even car bumpers.
Litter, particularly plastic, can harm wildlife and impact the quality of our drinking water.
#PlasticFreeJuly is a global movement that helps millions of people reduce plastic waste through simple, everyday choices and be a part of the solution to plastic pollution. Learn more.
Have a plastic-free July and refuse single-use plastic—this month, and every month. There is no shortage of reusable alternatives to single-use cups, straws, bags, and more. For a few more zero-waste options, click here.
Your effort can go a long way. Here are a few more tips for fostering a cleaner and greener Wissahickon Valley Park to protect our wildlife, improve drinking water quality, and provide a more beautiful user experience.
Become a Wissahero. Did you know that FOW has an independent volunteer program? We started Wissaheroes during COVID-19 to continue offering volunteer opportunities, even during social distancing mandates. Today, it continues to be an important part of our stewardship, offering volunteer hours to people who collect trash independently of FOW service days. Become a Wissahero—we provide instructions and recommended clean-up locations.
Leave No Trace. Learn the seven principles to more responsible park use. Plan ahead and prepare, stay on trail, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, respect wildlife, be considerate of others, and minimize the impact of campfires in parks that allow them (unlike in Wissahickon Valley Park). When it comes to single-use plastic, if you pack it in, pack it out. The park’s trash receptacles can become overwhelmed in the summer, and the ultimate gift to the watershed is carrying your trash out of the park with you!
Bring a bag. We all know the frustration of encountering trash on a hike. You don’t have to set out with the intention of doing a clean-up, but be prepared when inspiration strikes! On your next hike, bring a bag, or two to offer to another park-user, and gloves to collect trash on your travels.