Title: Plastic Free July: A Project Highlight
Date: August 13, 2024 at 12pm
Speaker: John O’Connell, Brazoria County Extension Agent and Cradle of Texas Chapter Advisor, and the Texas Master Naturalist Galveston Bay Area Chapter
Description: Coast into August with a TMNTuesday focused on sustainability projects initiated by some of our coastal Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) chapters focused on plastic clean-up for a belated celebration of Plastic Free July!
Presenting on the Texas Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program, John O’Connell, Brazoria County Extension Agent and Cradle of Texas TMN Advisor, will share how the program got started, how the chapter is involved and where others can get involved in their local waterways with collecting monofilament lines. Monofilament is another name for single-strand, high-density nylon fishing line that is used on fishing reels. Used line can be harmful to marine wildlife and boat motors. Birds and animals cannot see discarded monofilament fishing line, so it is easy for them to become tangled in it and starve, drown or lose a limb.
Galveston Bay Area Chapter will then share with us their process for reestablishing their Beach Cleanup Events. Slowed during COVID-19, these chapter volunteer service and social gatherings are being reignited by the current chapter leadership to create increase comradery and community among members, provide easy outlets for volunteer service in group settings and rebuild the culture of coastal suitability.
