Eco-Friendly Garbage Cleanup ‘Pick It Up’
Embarks on its Third Year
Pick It Up is a monthly grassroots cleanup effort
that originated in Red Bank on Earth Day
2019. Started by Red Bank-based creative
agency Splendor, the movement is now celebrating
its three-year anniversary. On April 22, the
group ventured out on the streets on Red Bank
message of responsible consumption and the pollution
caused primarily by single-use plastics.
The event has grown dramatically, despite the
challenges of COVID-19. There are now active Pick
It Up teams in multiple towns around New Jersey,
including Fair Haven and Sea Bright, among others.
Event founder Adam Taylor said, “I have long
supported the efforts of the Surfrider Foundation
and Clean Ocean Action. And as we have seen (and
their research has proven), trash that originates
further ‘upstream’ makes its way into inland waterways
and eventually out to the ocean. We’re trying
to cut it off before it gets that far.”
Pick It Up started as a small effort among
businesses in town, where a large amount of trash
is generated. The long-term goal of the initiative is
to branch out to every town in the country. Other
groups have begun to surface and contribute.
“Awareness is everything,” Taylor explained.
“Most people go about their lives not thinking
twice about how much plastic they buy and discard,
let alone where it winds up. I promise you,
if you spend a day cleaning up with one of our
teams, it will open your eyes.”
To that point, Fair Haven team leader Lizz
Slavin reported, “Team Fair Haven is made up of
mostly school-aged children. One hour on River
Road yielded six large bags of trash. The crew is
learning so much about being conscientious citizens;
it’s truly an outdoor classroom.”
30 MAY 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
/TheJournalNJ.com