Teen lauded for recycling project
PHOTO PROVIDED
Sean Russell, 19, of North Port, shows off his personal-size fishing line recycling container, which is made from a recycled tennis ball can. Russell began the "Stow It — Don't Throw It" project in 2008 and has since distributed more than 4,000 of the bins, involving hundreds of youths across the state.
SUN PHOTO BY STEVE REILLY, reilly@sun-herald.com
Englewood East resident Bill McWha faces a problem many local residents face. He lives beside a vacant home that is in foreclosure and is not being maintained.
SARASOTA COUNTY — It was in his community that Sean Russell first became engaged in waterway conservation. He observed firsthand the effects of marine debris on the local coastline, participated in beach cleanups with the local 4-H chapter, and completed an internship at Mote Marine Laboratory.
Now, at age 19, he engages communities across the state in conservation. He has spent the past four years spearheading the “Stow It — Don’t Throw It” monofilament fishing line recycling project, which distributes personal-size fishing line recycling containers throughout Florida — and gets area youth involved.
