What not to pick up
While it would be wonderful to rid the Mississippi River of all its litter, some items are best left behind. We ask even the most eager and determined volunteers to consider their own safety as top priority.
Heavy/large items
To ensure your safety, FMR asks you refrain from attempting to lift or dislodge any items of litter that are heavier than what you are comfortable with. If you find yourself straining to lift an item, it is perhaps best to simply make note of it, and either get someone to help you, or leave it be. For items that are too large for any one person to comfortably carry, one can always notify the city, or the Park Board, who will take care of it. It is not that FMR does not appreciate your hardy efforts; we simply do not want our volunteers to come to any harm.
Avoid things like this razor wire!
Sharp/jagged objects
Objects of sharp metal and/or with rusty edges can be dangerous. If a piece of litter looks as though it may be sharp, we ask that you ignore it.
Items out of easy reach
Currents and temperature within the Mississippi River can prove dangerous without the use of caution. Do not attempt to retrieve any items of litter that are floating within the river beyond easy reach from the shore. If necessary, you may get your feet wet, but not beyond the ankle.
Personal hygiene products
When encountering personal hygiene items, such as condoms, tampons, and needles, use extreme caution. While FMR will provide you with gloves, we advise you to ignore such items that may prove a risk to your health. If something makes you uncomfortable, simply move on to other items, or notify your group staff leader.
When not to disturb an area
In unique instances the removal of trash can do more harm than letting it be. It sounds like an odd idea, but in rare occasions it is true. If a piece of trash has been idle within an area for an extended period of time it may be partially submerged within the roots or soil of a living root sysem or support a foundation for the growth of natural fungi and mosses. Birds build nests with whatever material they can find. To pluck a plastic drinking straw from a cardinal's nest, for example, would do more harm than good.
While it is important to be thorough when removing litter, it is equally important to remain safe. FMR appreciates volunteers like you and simply asks that you use your best judgement. Keeping the river healthy is of great importance, and a thorough cleanup can be achieved without taking unnecessary and dangerous risks.