Since 2001, Boston Scientific employee volunteers have participated in the Adopt-a-River program, acting as environmental custodians for the Pig's Eye Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) along the banks of the Mississippi. Pig's Eye Island is a vital wildlife habitat south of St. Paul, MN, and is believed to be one of the largest avian nesting sites in the state, with an estimated peak of 1,600 pairs of nesting colonial water birds.
Unfortunately, flooding and human carelessness bring new debris each year to its river banks. During an event on Saturday, October 18, 2008, volunteers from Boston Scientific and the Adopt-a-River program discovered that the south end of the island was deluged with plastic. Most of the 1,940 pounds of waste collected were recyclable food and beverage containers. Over the last four years alone, 148 volunteers have cleaned 9,860 pounds of garbage from the island.
To learn about organizing lake and river cleanups in Minnesota, visit the Adopt-a-River website.
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