Staff from the Chemours chemical plant point to the camper top that their company’s $2,000 donation helped KTNRB to purchase after participating in a river cleanup where they removed over 3,000 lbs. of trash.
Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTNRB) celebrated Earth Day river cleanups with communities in Clifton, Tenn. and New Johnsonville, Tenn. where volunteers from a high school, a local chemical plant, and even vacationers removed 7,373 lbs. of trash from Kentucky Lake of the Tennessee River.
The nonprofit also showcased their new camper top for their river cleanup truck that was purchased with a $2,000 donation from the Chemours chemical plant in Humphreys County, Tenn.
EARTH DAY WITH FRANK HUGHES HIGH SCHOOL | CLIFTON, TN
KTNRB hosted three river cleanups to celebrate Earth Day last week, kicking off with an Earth Day cleanup partnered with the Wayne County Beautification Project in Clifton, Tenn. with students from Frank Hughes High School. The students rode in KTNRB’s 26-foot work boat to Jeter Towhead Island, where a marina had been stranded after a major flood that occurred in 2019.
The students collected 2,814 lbs. of trash, including 196 square feet of Styrofoam that had been dislodged from the marina, a 500-pound tractor tire, two refrigerators, and much more.
“These impressive kids had the best attitude, showed a hard work ethic during the entire cleanup, and used teamwork to get the job done—all things that give hope for our future,” said Kathleen Gibi, Executive Director for Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful. “They made it a very special Earth Day.”
Wayne County hauled off all of the trash removed and Clifton Marina and RV Park hosted the launch site for the event. Gibi said it was Lindsay Ross of the Wayne County Beautification Project who reached out to make this event happen and did much of the local organizing.
“These students, along with their teacher, Thomas Fish, showed enthusiasm and passion regarding keeping litter and debris out of the Tennessee River,” said Lindsay Ross, Project Manager for the Wayne County Beautification Project. “They were taught skills and knowledge that will help them become environmental stewards and we thank Kathleen and her team for making this awesome educational opportunity come to fruition for these students and for Wayne County Tennessee.”
CHEMOURS GIVES DONATION, STAFF VOLUNTEER AT CLEANUP | NEW JOHNSONVILLE, TN
On Friday, April 23, nine volunteers from the Chemours chemical plant located on the Tennessee River helped to remove 3,161 lbs. of trash at a cleanup partnered with New Johnsonville State Historic Park. The weight pulled included 114 bags of trash, 223 lbs. of random plastic, 12 tires, and even two mannequin heads!
“This was the second cleanup that the Chemours team has participated in on Kentucky Lake, and it’s so crucial for businesses like Chemours to set such an example of river stewardship,” said Gibi.
When the cleanup was finished, the trash-filled boat was loaded onto KTNRB’s trailer and the Chemours employees posed with the boat and truck, pointing to the camper top that their company had made possible through a $2,000 donation.
Gibi said that the camper top provides essentially a mobile office and storage space that makes their river cleanups even more effective.
"We are thankful for the opportunity to help make the riverbanks and Kentucky Lake a cleaner place for everyone to enjoy," said Chemours Johnsonville Plant Manager Clement Hilton. "Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful provides a great resource to people and organizations all along the Tennessee River, and Chemours is happy to help make their mobile efforts more productive with the donation for a camper top.”
CLEANUP WITH VACATIONERS, RETIRED COUNTY COMMISSIONER |
NEW JOHNSONVILLE, TN
The weekend wrapped up on a rainy Saturday, April 24, held once again in collaboration with New Johnsonville State Historic Park. Even through the rains, three women who were vacationing on a girls trip weekend, and an 82 year old retired County Commissioner, came out to clean shorelines on Kentucky Lake of the Tennessee River.
The cleanup was cut short, but not before the volunteers removed 1,398 lbs., including 39 bags of trash, three tires, a kids’ kitchenette set, a boat seat, a big wheel, and more.
“It’s always inspiring to see volunteers come out to clean our river, but to come out in the rain while on vacation or at 82 years old takes it to another level!” Gibi said. “There’s hope for our waterways because of people like them.”
Both cleanups in New Johnsonville were launched from Pebble Isle Marina and Humphreys County Sanitation donated a roll-off dumpster service to haul away all of the trash collected.
“Johnsonville State Historic Park’s mission is to Preserve, Protect and Share the stories of Johnsonville, Tenn.,” said Ranger Sinz. “Caring for this area of the Tennessee River is important for the preservation and protection of the natural resources within the park, as well as Humphreys County, and we are so grateful for the dedicated community volunteers and local partners such as Chemours for their efforts to help improve our local environment.”
This weekend marked the sixth cleanup that KTNRB has hosted in collaboration with Johnsonville State Historic Park the first one held in October 2020. To date, volunteers have removed 18,578 lbs. of trash from the area in those six cleanups. Gibi said they’ve been able to remove so much from one area because of passionate local partners from the region, particularly the rangers at the state park.
“Ranger Noah Sinz in particular has simply been a make-it-happen kind of partner and without his help, these cleanups wouldn’t have come close to being so successful,” said Gibi. “We’re always on the lookout for more river champions like him throughout the Tennessee River watershed because they’re true changemakers.”
To learn more about KTNRB or register for a cleanup, visit www.KeepTNRIverBeautiful.org.
