High School students clean up the National Mall

Northwestern High School students didn't just do their part picking up trash at the FDR Memorial for the 19th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup later; they also learnedto "Talk Trash." The students got their hands dirty collecting, sorting, and weighing the trash on the banks of the Potomac River -- a "trash hot spot" right on the National Mall. They computed the percentage of recyclables by weight and volume, and learned how trash moves through the Potomac River Watershed by wind and water."Trash in the Potomac River Watershed is the most neglected sign of this beautiful national treasure," says Congressman Chris Van Hollen about the annual Cleanup and Initiative to be "Trash Free by 2013." "If we want to clean up our Watershed, we must take responsibility for ending the neglect."

The Northwestern High School students participated in "Bridging the Watershed" (BTW) - an outreach program of the Alice Ferguson Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and area high schools. This experience leads them to become future stewards of national parks and the environment.

The Potomac River Watershed Cleanup has overseen the collection of more than 2.5 million pounds of trash - the largest volunteer led cleanup on the East coast. Check the net at (www.potomaccleanup.org )