On Nov. 3, Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) staff took a break from work to make a big difference for the local environment. For the 2016 WEF Eco service project, 23 staff volunteers pitched in to clean the Oronoco Bay and Rivergate City parks, located a short distance away from WEF’s headquarters.
Equipped with trash bags and gloves, volunteers ventured from the park area out onto the bushes and rocks lining the waterfront to pick up litter. In 2 hours, the volunteers collected 20 bags of trash. Not only did they unearth numerous plastic bottles and discarded food containers; they also found a coconut, a wooden doorstop, various items of clothing, a plate of oranges, a stuffed penguin, and flip flops.
WEF launched the WEF Eco program in mid-2007 in an effort to reduce the organization’s effect on the environment. The WEF Eco team worked with the City of Alexandria to organize the project.
In addition to the service project, the team hosted an e-waste collection drive. During the 6-week collection that began on Oct. 31, the team collected 8 kg (18 lbs) of batteries, 1.8 kg (4 lbs) of lighting waste such as light bulbs and ballasts, and 138 kg (305 lbs) of other electronic waste such as keyboards, phones, fax machines and printers. The e-waste has been collected and delivered to an Air Cycle Corp. (Lisle, Ill.) facility, where it will be recycled.
— Jennifer Fulcher, WEF Highlights
WEF 2016 Service Project Gallery |
WEF photos courtesy of Fulcher, Ries, Printz, Saxton, and Nance. |
Read more about WEF’s sustainability efforts in the WEF Highlights articles
- “WEF Staff Cycling Team Smashes 2016 Goal of National Bike Challenge;”
- “WEF Celebrates Spring with Community Service and Commuter Challenge;”
- “WEF Staff Share the Value of Water Message with Local Students”;”
- “Walking the Talk for Water;” and
- “WEF Staff Support WATER’s WORTH IT™ Message with Action.”
January 12, 2017
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