Southern Illinois is known for its highly biodiverse ecosystems. Unfortunately, many natural areas here are used as dump sites for trash, especially for large objects like tires and appliances that are difficult to dispose of. Beginning in 2021, Illinois Extension partnered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Shawnee National Forest, and Friends of the Shawnee National Forest to conduct trash blasts.
In the first year, two trash blasts took place in Alexander County, with Master Naturalists removing 184 pounds of trash. Since then, the program has grown beyond Master Naturalist to include many volunteers from the public. Since 2021, more than 12,800 pounds of trash have been removed from public lands in southern Illinois.
Learn more about Master Naturalists in Alexander County.
