Volunteers Remove 36,000 Pounds of Debris at Tampa Park in Cleanup Campaign

Volunteers across the Tampa Bay area grabbed bags and tools on Saturday. They hauled away more than 36,000 pounds of trash and plant debris at Picnic Island Park. This work happened as part of the "Greatest American Cleanup" campaign that stretches from coast to coast.

According to Fox13News.com, nearly 80 volunteers showed up. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful brought people. So did the city of Tampa Green Team and Radiant Church. They yanked out invasive Brazilian pepper trees. These trees grow thick tops that choke out native plants and threaten mangroves along the coast.

Crews hacked at branches. They dragged away piles of plant material from Picnic Island Boulevard. Other groups fanned out across the park. Cans got tossed into bags. So did  butts and party streamers.

Keep America Beautiful runs this campaign each year. Their goal is to get rid of 25 billion pounds of litter before Independence Day, when the United States marks its 250th birthday.

Brazilian pepper trees cause serious problems in Florida. Berries drop into water. Seeds float away and sprout in new spots.

When these trees take over, they steal sunlight from native plants below. Mangroves can't grow. Wildlife that needs native plants loses its home. Pulling out the invaders brings back natural habitats.

About 100 volunteers with Keep Manatee Beautiful picked up trash along the Manatee Avenue Causeway. They filled a 4,700-pound dumpster. Suncoast Aquaventures sent crews onto the water to grab debris floating in local waterways, but they're still counting what they collected.

Pasco County hosted events through Keep Pasco Beautiful. Groups in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pasco counties all pitched in to help reach the national goal.

Anyone who wants to help can sign up for Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful's sixth Annual Great Port Cleanup on April 17 at three spots around the bay.