Trash Blows Campaign Rollout at ADSFR

Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Begins “Trash Blows” Campaign on Dauphin Island
Campaign encourages anglers to stow their truck bed and boat trash to keep waterways clean

Dauphin Island, AL: The Town of Dauphin Island and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) have partnered to raise awareness about litter blowing from truck beds and boats during this year’s Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. MBNEP wants to remind anglers that TRASH BLOWS! As part of the CREATE A CLEAN WATER FUTURE Campaign (CCWF), the Trash Blows message will be spread throughout the Island during Rodeo weekend.

• 3 banners displayed at Billy Goat Hole, across from Ship and Shore, and at Cedar Point.
• Multiple signage along DIP reminding north and south bound traffic to stow their trash
• Shuttle service at Billy Goat Hole providing anglers with trash bags and Trash Blows drink huggers
• Promotional giveaways at the Rodeo site - Create a Clean Water Future and Trash Blows
• For the first time during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, RECYCLING opportunities will be made available to those visiting the Island provided by MBNEP, Thompson Engineering, Earth Resources Recycling, and the City of Dauphin Island

Visitors coming to the Island from Mobile will pass a string of signs that remind drivers to stow their trash. They’ll then encounter three highly-visible banners emblazoned with a cartoon of trash blowing out of the back of a pick-up truck and boat with the words “Trash Blows…Stow It!” The banners are part of the Create a Clean Water Future public service campaign.

Rodeo participants arriving early each morning to launch their boats will enjoy a free shuttle service staffed by MBNEP and volunteers to quickly return to the launch after parking their vehicles. Gators provided by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab will be used to ferry the passengers who will be given a trash bag and drink hugger and encouraged to stow their trash while they are out on the water.

Rodeo participants are encouraged to join in on the #TrashBlows social media campaign: take a selfie with all the trash they’ve “stowed,” then post it to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag “#TrashBlows” They’ll be eligible for special prizes if they come by the Mobile Bay NEP table in the sponsors tent.

Along with the other activities, for the first time during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, RECYCLING opportunities will be made available to those visiting the Island. This service is being provided through a collaboration between The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Thompson Engineering, Earth Resources Recycling, and the City of Dauphin Island.

About the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program: With a mission to promote the wise stewardship of the water quality and living resource of the Mobile Bay estuary, MBNEP is a non-regulatory organization that works to bring together business interests, governmental interests, citizen groups, non-profits and scientists to tackle big problems related to keeping Mobile Bay and the surrounding creeks and rivers clean and free of pollution. Due to this collaborative approach measures taken are not only good for the environment, but also good for the local economy with a focus of preserving the area’s unique culture.

About Create a Clean Water Future: When rain rushes over roofs, roads, and parking lots, it carries everything it touches into storm drains that empty into our streams, rivers, and bays (non-point source pollution). The CCWF public service campaign is designed to explain what stormwater is and to encourage individual actions resulting in the reduction of stormwater pollution at both an individual and community level. The website provides simple tips we can all incorporate into our day to day lives that contribute to a clean water future by eliminating the following from our storm drains:

• Litter and plastic debris;
• Vehicle and household cleaners- old paint, antifreeze, oil, pesticides; and
• Fertilizer, leaves, and grass clippings;

For more simple tips go to www.cleanwaterfuture.com