During our Cleanup Events, we find all sorts of discarded items near the waterways, like heavy metals, appliances, car parts, and nails
Most of these are too contaminated for Brevard County recycling, but the Waterway Warriors partner with a local metal recycling shop. We bring metals to the shop when we can, and if they're too heavy, the shop comes to pick them up. Metal in the water is toxic to aquatic plants and marine life and can be dangerous for people.
Along our waterways, visitors often burn wooden pallets, each containing over 75 nails. Accelerants like motor oil are sometimes used to intensify the flames. These fires burn so hot that they fuse nails, sand, and debris into a toxic layer. When the water rises, thousands of rusty nails and harmful chemicals wash into the water, posing a serious threat to aquatic wildlife.
Every quarter, Waterway Warriors volunteers come together for 'metal sweeping'—a physically demanding task that requires strength and teamwork so that we can protect our waterways. So far, we've removed and recycled over 22,000 nails (196 lbs) through the Metal Recycling Program.
Thank you to our generous VISIONARY SPONSORS
-
American Earth Anchors -
-
-
-
-
-
