Magnet fishing off the bridges, grappling hooks, and motorized equipment, along with more than 100 IPF Landscape Service staff and volunteers, hauled in almost 975 pounds of materials from the Red Cedar River and its banks to be recycled by the Surplus Store and Recycling Center.

"My team takes great pride in maintaining the banks of the Red Cedar River, and events like this gives us an opportunity showcase that commitment," said Matt Bailey, manager for Landscape Services.

On March 22, Infrastructure, Planning and Facilities (IPF) invited the Spartan community to comb the Red Cedar River for debris. It was a great opportunity for students, staff and volunteers to interact and make a big impact. 

This year within the 975 pounds of debris removed were litter, bikes, scooters, couches, chairs, abandoned unhoused encampments, a picnic table, dock sections, logs, construction barriers, cones, graffiti, and canoes. The majority of what was picked up was regular household items such as bottles, cans, plastic bags, paper and clothes. 

A lot of the bottles and cans were along major walkways and roads.

"These events showcase the strength and dedication the community has for recycling and caring for our environment," said Dave Smith, service manager at MSU’s Surplus Store and Recycling Center. "We’ve seen an uptick in participation for events hosted through the store this year, like upcycling and clothing freestyling."

Bike frames, logs, and other debris were pulled from the Red Cedar River. Photo by Sean Keast

While IPF crews regularly maintain these areas as part of their work, IPF hosts larger Red Cedar River Cleanup gatherings twice a year during the spring and fall. These present a golden opportunity for the Spartan community to contribute to MSU’s award winning natural areas and work together to keep MSU Spartan Green. MSU has also been working in partnership with the City of Lansing and the MI Waterway Stewards to clean up the riverbed west of Brody Hall. On Sunday March 30, the group cleared more debris from the river to maintain the natural beauty of the river and increase usability. 

The Red Cedar River Stewardship and Recreation Committee, comprised of members from across MSU including IPF, helps coordinate and highlight opportunities like this to get people excited and engaged with the river:

IPF Employees gather outside Van Hoosen Hall to prepare for the cleanup. Photo by Sean Keast

• April 12: from noon to 4 p.m. the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center is hosting Earth Bash to encourage people to explore upcycling, deconstruct electronics, go secondhand shopping or tour the facility to learn about recycling and vermicompost.
• April 18: Steelhead fish from the Michigan DNR are being restocked in the Red Cedar River. This is a sight that always draws a crowd of onlookers. 
• April 25: Arbor Day brings together a variety of groups across campus to celebrate trees. Visit campus at noon between Jenison Field House and Kellogg Ramp along the river for this year’s Arbor Day planting with Sparty. 
• Kayaking on the Red Cedar: Behind Jenison Field House the kayak launch is in place for the Spartan community to enjoy the warmer weather and explore the natural beauty of the river from a new perspective.

Left to Rright: IPF's Brent Raymond, Jason Richter, Seamus Fry, Jorden Cochrane, Dustin Moore.  Photo by Sean Keast

 

"The committee was formed just over a year ago and it has been phenomenal to see the connections made across MSU and the greater Lansing area in support of the river and each other," said Janet Lillie, assistant vice president for community relations at MSU. "We’ve grown our relationships and helped partner for the environment, specifically the river. It’s wonderful to see so much commitment to such a treasured part of our landscape."

This story originally featured on the IPF's website.