Trash dumping concerns in Chico

City officials and community members expressed concern about the long term effects of debris found in waterways and parks.

Community members are worried about the amount of trash and debris in the parks and greenways..

Action news now reporter christina vitale shows us what's being done to upkeep the environment.

Michael hicks: call it instant gratification but i know im making a difference michael hicks is a volunteer with the chico p.a.l.s.

(partners ambassadors leaders and stewards) hicks: there was just a big increase in all of our parks and waterways we can't just argue about this stuff we have to pick it up this is one of the three trucks the group filled with trash after cleaning out the comanche creek greenways in just one day... liz: we're keeping two to three truck loads and two trailers out of the creek its important for me and all of us who walk along that creek.

Liz stewart is apart of another volunteer group friends of comanche creek greenwayãshe spends 3 hours every wednesday beautifying the park.

Liz: i want them to feel this is a pretty place that its well taken care of and heavens knows it isn't tom: chico's park and natural resource manager, linda herman says the long term effects aren't known yet... no studies have been done but they can strive to prevent negatives by maintaining the up-keep now.

Liz: i know theres long term affects i know its not healthy for the soil here you dont want to sit down and have a picnic where theres been trash sitting over the years so we have to clean it so people can enjoy it linda herman park and natural resource manager: i think we are standing up we partner with them we usually have our staff there our park rangers will notice the camps ahead of time so people have the opportunity to move along or pick up their belongings before we go in standup: herman says they dispose of about 40 cubic yards of trash twice a week& that's over 300 of your 13 gallon kitchen trash bags&.

Hicks: we're also earning in-kind dollars for future park projects these grants you ready about like this park here received a million dollar grant recentlyã half of those grants we earned because of people like me.

Hicks says with the 7 thousand acres of park- land chico has -- there comes some responsibility as a neighbor.

Hicks: community service doesn't mean stop when things get difficult we need to increase our efforts rather than just complain about things if youd like to get involved with the cleanups check out the park department's calendarãyou can find it on our website... under newslinks...## getting