JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
They call it the Boat 'n Tote Campaign. It was launched with a tour of the Upper Reservoir and Pearl River in an effort to encourage people to keep the beaches they are using, clean.
The campaign includes new kiosks with Boat 'n Tote bags making it much easier for boaters to collect trash and other waste.
Reservoir manager John Sigman says we need everyone to do their part to care for this precious natural resource.
"We canceled our trash cleanup contract, we only have a contingency contract in place, where we will pick our trash up after the three big holiday weekends. By everybody cooperating we are sure that will work again this year," Sigman said.
There have been major problems with trash, particularly beer cans being dumped on the sandbars in recent years. But last year a concerted effort was made to get people to pick up their trash and take it back with them to be put in dumpsters.
Jeannine May is the Executive Director of keep the Rez beautiful.
"Bag everything up this afternoon and on Monday and put it in the dumpsters at Ratliff's and Cole Bluff.
The reservoir had been spending $50,000 a year to clean up the beaches. That has been cut back to $6,000 a year and cleanups will only be paid after the major holiday weekends, of Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.
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