Haoming Zhang

I participated in the Elizabeth River Cleanup event on Thursday April 18^th, 2019. The event was brought up by the Earth Science Club. The Earth Science Club is a student founded association which aims to explain the understanding of earth science, and also help Kean students learn earth science through engaging their activities. Each year, the Earth Science Club will organize different events to fulfill their goals. This year, “Elizabeth River Cleanup” is one of their major events. 

The cleaning up event started from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, there are about 50 self-volunteered students gathered at the pick-up points when I arrived (10:15). My teammate Zhen Li and I went to the event together. Several students from the Earth Science Club explained the event to us while we were signing in. They taught us how to use the equipment and where trash bags and boots are located. There are two different trash bags, the white plastic bags are for garbage that can be recycled, such as beverage bottles or cans. The black trash bags are for those can`t be recycled. Then we went to the riverside after wore on those boots.                                                                                    

(Credit by Zhen Li)

At first both of us thought this would be an easy task. Few minutes later, we found out that we are wrong. There are tons of domestic garbage located along two sides of the Elizabeth river, most of which are stuck on the tree roots of the river banks, or piled up in the mud at the bottom of the river. Both of us were shocked by the horrible·sceneries in front of us. It seems impossible for us to clean this up. After an hour of cleaning and grabbing garbage in the river, we harvested two bags of domestic waste. Most of them were consist of empty plates and plastic bottles left over from the picnic, other than that, we have found several fertilizer bags and snack bags. Unluckily, we have to leave because we got a class at 12:30, so went back to the pick-up point. 

On my way to class, I felt very embarrassed and guilt for what human beings done to the Earth. That might take centuries for Earth to digest and absorb the enormous amount of domestic garbage created by us. I have a more profound view of pollution after attending this cleanup event. Also, I hope in Wenzhou Kean, we can set up similar clubs and organizations like the Earth Science Club. Student will get a more in depth view of the environmental protection after they attend one.