by Frank Lee
operations@thenewsleaders.com
Sebastian Terres saw a littering problem at St. Joseph area parks and decided to do something about it.
The 15-year-old started cleaning up Millstream Park last summer and resumed on March 28 collecting garbage he finds at the park located on the northwestern edge of St. Joseph.
“He’s found like everything from glass bottles to metal poles and cigarette butts,” Kate Terres said of her youngest son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
She said her son became interested in protecting the environment and wildlife after he learned online of animals elsewhere being harmed by items left behind by park users.
“One thing he learned about was this poor little turtle that had gotten, when it was little, a piece of plastic stuck around its middle, and it became deformed as it grew bigger,” she said.
Sebastian Terres began cleaning up Millstream Park in July and August, and he plans to keep doing so at the park, which features a wooded walking trail among the Watab River.
“He’s always had a love for animals,” she said. “When we ride our four-wheelers up north … if there is a turtle in the middle of the road, he’ll move it, so it doesn’t get run over.”
The teen filled four garbage bags last year of trash he collected from Millstream Park, which is located north of County State-Aid Highway 75 and east of County State-Aid Highway 3.
“I started doing it because I’ve just seen a lot of garbage there when I was there with my dad, so I started picking it up, and it just became a thing with me, I guess,” Sebastian said.
“I just feel kind of like somebody just spit in the face of everybody that lives in St. Joe, and even people who live in St. Joe pollute there, and it’s not right.”
Taxpayers spent almost $11 billion last year cleaning up litter across the nation – 10 times more than the cost of disposing trash, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Kate Terres, who is a 38-year-old wife and mother of three from St. Joseph, said her son has talked about organizing others to help him in his clean-up efforts.
“At this point, he’s just doing it by himself … but I’m really proud of him,” she said.
Sebastian Terres of St. Joseph cleans up Millstream Park on March 28 by collecting garbage the teen finds at the park located on the northwestern edge of St. Joseph.
Sebastian Terres of St. Joseph cleans up Millstream Park on March 28 by collecting garbage the teen finds at the park located on the northwestern edge of St. Joseph.
