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Community Corner

Nonprofit Has Tons of Success Clearing Litter from State Waterways

Paddle Without Pollution, a nonprofit organization, cleans waterways throughout Pennsylvania and cleared 2.6 tons of litter from Chartiers Creek in April. Sponsored by Post Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. This story was originally posted on the ChartiersValley Patch.

Facing the Challenge

Melissa Rohm and her husband, David, both avid kayakers, got tired of picking litter out of the waterways that they love.

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So, they founded the nonprofit organization Paddle Without Pollution to make a difference.

Finding the Inspiration

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"In the summer of 2011, we launched our kayaks on the South Side downtown just for kicks and thought we'd paddle to Heinz Field and come back," Melissa said. "We didn't get very far when we started seeing just piles and piles of trash. When you're down on the water, you get a really close-up view."

Melissa said that she off-handedly suggested organizing regular waterway cleanups, and her husband came up with a name—and a plan.

Melissa said that it can be discouraging to see so much trash in the water. But the volunteers also come across wildlife, including—once—a small alligator, which Melissa said is rewarding because it reminds them of how important their work is.

Kayaks provide a low-impact way of working in the environment and allow volunteers to reach places that motor crews can't access, Melissa said.

Reaching the Goal

Paddle Without Pollution now sponsors about 16 events per year and uses volunteers in kayaks and canoes to clean up rivers, creeks, lakes and wetlands across Pennsylvania. Each cleanup attracts between 20 and 50 volunteers, and Melissa said that volunteers do not need to have kayaking or canoeing experience to help out.

In April, the group tackled Chartiers Creek in Upper St. Clair and South Fayette townships, pulling a whopping 2.6 tons of trash from the water.

"Every cleanup, you find interesting things," Melissa said. "You have to laugh at what you find. You think, 'How does this stuff get in there?'

"Someone found a 20-pack of Ramen noodles, all kinds of toys, a ladder, and one water ski—and tires, like always."

And the group will continue its mission, which is more about the environment than the sport.

"We're not hardcore kayakers; we're hardcore passionate about the water," Melissa said. "We're around it all the time, and we want to see it be healthy."

Read morePaddle Without Pollution website and events calendar
                   Paddle Without Pollution Facebook page

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