Girl Scouts Pushing On with Anti-Litter Pledge

Two are continuing their mission of keeping the village's parks clear of trash as they reach their bronze service project goal.

The 5th grade troop at Ridge (Troop 152) and GW-based Troop 1136 (7th grade) picked up three "giant" bags of trash at the skate park in roughly 30 minutes.

Picking up the trash is only one part of the initiative. The girls in 5th and 7th grades have been attaching posters to garbage bins throughout the village with a slogan of "Be Green, Not a Litter Machine' Keep Ridgewood Parks and Fields Clean!"

Sports coaches have also been asked for their help, and appeals made to the village council for help.

Other efforts have come in the form of a self-produced video, "Leave Less, Pick Up Your Mess," that was filmed in the downtown and local parks. The girls also employed simply updating their classmates at school as to their environmental progress.

Two big events though have helped get the word out. At Super Science Saturday, girls from Troop 1136 analyzed decomposition rates of various materials. The Scouts learned some items – like socks, plastic spoons, and water bottles – show virtually no decomposition rates over three months and can take thousands of years to decompose.

The girls – who picked up 4 large trash bags behind Hawes with the Ridgewood Wildscape Association – are asking that citizens help do their part. According to statistics provided by the girls, Ridgewood recycled 30 percent of the plastic it used in 2010, discarding 400 tons in total.

The Scouts are asking that people join their litter patrol, being more cognizant of discarding litter, asking others to be responsible and spreading the word.