Trashy Creek
By Katie Cline

Litter is an unwelcome site wherever you are in Chapel Hill. And officials are taking notice of an increased amount in the streams around town.

There are lots of beer cans and party cups alongside Bolin Creek. And with so much rain in the past week, Stormwater Educator Wendy Smith said that it’s not just water that’s going into the creek.

“The storm drains lead directly to creeks and drainage ways, so anything that is carried by the water goes down them, into our creeks, whether that's litter, fertilizer, pet waste, pesticides, or anything else that is on the ground,” she said.

Smith sees more trash around student housing and rentals and says that people need to show a personal sense of responsibility and pick it up.