Perhaps like us, you’ve been wondering about how the coronavirus shutdown is affecting the natural world, water resources, infrastructure, and the work of environmental advocates. We reached out to the experts in the Finding the Flint Working Group to see what they are noticing during these weeks of cancelled meetings, work-from-home experimentation, and quiet time outdoors.

Kennedy (pictured second from right) at a roadside clean up in February organized with Men of Intelligence Association.

We’re all seeing a new form of litter these days—gloves and masks tossed on the street. Is it okay to pick up litter? We asked Frances Kennedy, Executive Director of Keep East Point Beautiful. Kennedy has served 16 years with East Point’s environmental education program. Like Keep America Beautiful (National) and Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (State), KEPB is focused on litter prevention, beautification, waste reduction, water conservation, and recycling.

How are you? What are your days like at Keep East Point Beautiful right now?

All is well with me, just trying to navigate my days filled with work and grandkids. Having a 4th, 7th, and 8th grader to “home school” is a challenge. They are getting used to it and we are going to get it done.

The work stoppage of the coronavirus hit us hard because it began the week of our big educational event for the students, Brainstorming: A Children’s Water Festival. The event is usually attended by more than 450 students and teachers, so the first stage of halting large gatherings affected us.

We were coming up on Earth Day and the Great American CleanUp and many cleanups were being planned and scheduled to take place during April and May in particular. Watching what the cities and state were doing as far as shutdowns, I knew these activities would not happen in the next few weeks and maybe even longer. Our primary concern is the safety of affiliates and volunteers.

What have you noticed about how the coronavirus shutdown is affecting litter, community organizing, and outdoor activities?

The CDC’s social distancing recommendations went from banning gatherings of 50, then 20, then 10 or fewer people. Meanwhile, our national guidance from Keep America Beautiful (KAB) was to refrain from picking up litter in groups or individually because of the life expectancy of the virus on littered objects. Reports form global health services stated that this coronavirus can live on surfaces for an extended period of time, such as 24 hours on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastics.

I do not promote going out to clean up litter at this time. However, if you can pickup discarded gloves and masks safely, please do so with caution. That would mean wearing your own PPE to pick up the littered items, changing gloves and washing hands afterwards as soon as possible. A trash grabber helps, but it would need to be cleaned immediately. My fear is most people will not take the maximum precautions.

Even the places where we rent equipment for projects were closed to general use for safety reasons. Because equipment is used by so many people, the Tool Bank shut down to clean and disinfect tools so when the time comes to resume rentals the equipment would not pose a health problem.

Additionally, we were given guidance on recycling. The changes that are taking place regarding recycling are determined by local governments based on state and CDC guidelines. Some recycling programs were shut down completely because of health concerns.

When someone has tested positive for coronavirus, it is important to take care in the disposal of items. They should NOT be recycled. The items should be sealed in a bag and placed in the trash. This is the same action that one should take with cleaning supplies, paper towels, tissues, or PPE generated within a home or business where virus has been detected.

Do you think these changes are temporary?

I think that the process and steps we are being asked to take will be the “new norm.” All these protective measures are just good hygiene. Until we can be sure that such measures no longer prevent the spread of a virus we are still finding out more and more about each day, then this is the norm for the foreseeable future.

Any silver linings that we should try to preserve?

In general, I hope people retain these habits of hygiene, not drop litter (#reconsiderlitter), and the true value of all workers and jobs. We all have seen on this journey that there are no low-level jobs. These are the jobs and people who make life possible as we have been privileged to live. Something I’ve always believed is that no man is an island. We are only as good as our weakest link.

How can we help?

Here are some articles published by Keep America Beautiful on things we can do. They are all common sense considering our new norm:

Watch where you toss those used wipes and gloves!, Keep America Beautiful

Recycling Tips During COVID-19, Keep America Beautiful

Spring Cleaning Tips During COVID-19, Keep America Beautiful

SWANA, KAB Urge Proper Disposal of Gloves, Masks (Waste360)

How coronavirus is disrupting US waste and recycling (WasteDive)

Waste and recycling trade groups issue coronavirus guidance for worker safety (WasteDive)

Perspectives on the Shutdown: Litter