On December 2, 2015, Zoo employees and volunteers took to the streets – and the sidewalks, zoo paths, and behind-the-scenes areas – to spruce up the Zoo and its surrounding neighborhood.
Over 50 people participated for a 5 hour stretch of time spent bending, lifting, and hauling trash. It was a great way to work off some of those Thanksgiving calories, and a means to give back to the surrounding community. Areas cleaned up included Nolensville Pike (which borders the Zoo on the east), Elysian Fields Road (on the south side), and the back paths inside the Zoo.
All sorts of interesting items were found, including metal signs, various car parts, corrugated roofing material, and Mardi Gras beads! And yes, recyclable bottles and cans were separated and bagged for proper disposal.
Thanks to everyone who got down and dirty to help, and to those employees who stayed in their areas to ensure their co-workers could participate.
This event was sponsored by the Nashville Zoo’s Green Team, an internal committee that is committed to improving sustainable practices throughout the Zoo.
Although this was the third Green Sweep in the last two years, plenty of trash was still there for the picking. All in all, we collected at least 25 large garbage bags of trash, and 10 large plastic bags of recyclables - and that doesn’t include all the items too big to bag!