Four Princeton kids patrol their neighborhood to pick up litter strewn along the road. From left, Tucker, 9; Ray’lynn,9; Brecklyn, 9 and Luna, 7. Courtesy Photo

For the past three years, four Princeton youngsters have been hiking around their block near FM 1377, stopping to pick up the occasional piece of litter. 

“We started by just taking walks around the block to walk our two dogs and the kids wanted to go with us, so of course we were delighted,” said Dana Bell, their neighbor. 

She said they first started picking up trash by first finding “treasures” on the side of the road. 

“A screw, washer, that type of thing,” she said. “Then they picked up a bottle that happened to be a beer bottle. From that it was trash. They all wanted to pick up trash.”

Bell said they started with a plastic Walmart bag for each kid. 

“But that wasn’t enough, so we’ve graduated to bigger bags,” she said. “Even those two contractor size bags weren’t enough on Sunday, Sept. 27”

Bell said the litter is mostly fast-food wrappers, bags and cups. “Taco Bell is the overwhelming winner of the trash contest, [but] McD comes in second,” she said.

Bell said that in the most recent stroll, Tucker, Ray’lnn, Brecklyn and Luna filled two contractor size bags and they were so heavy they had trouble carrying them back home. Now they’ll need a wagon to haul the litter home, Bell said. 

Another new piece of equipment they’re getting:  grabbers to keep them out of the weeds and poison ivy.

When they get it home, the trash goes into residential trash and recycling bins.

“They grumble about how ‘rude’ people are that throw trash out,” Bell said. “They’re right, of course, but it’s cute to see them understand the effect on the environment.”

Princeton will observe the annual Fall Sweep program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, but Bell wasn’t sure whether her neighborhood kids would take part because they are involved in sports.

The city of Princeton said the Sweep is open to families, organizations, businesses, or any group interested in creating a positive impact within the community.

Supplies can be picked up at Princeton Public Works, 255 E. Monte Carlo Boulevard.

More information is available from Fatima Barboza, [email protected]. 

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