“Despite rain at  many of our cleanup sites, we had 663 volunteers turn out to donate 1,354 hours and pick up 15,280 pounds of trash,” reported Keep  Jacksonville Beautiful Commission Chair Chris Buckley.
           
Buckley noted that the hourly value of those volunteers amounted to more than $31,000 during the event, which ran from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 19 sites around Duval County. In 2014, 317 volunteers donated 632 hours to pick up 6,120 pounds of litter and debris.
           
“And if you add the cost avoidance of having volunteers, rather than a private contractor picking up that stuff, that’s another $18,000 in savings,” she said. In total, Buckley added, the event’s volunteers saved taxpayers $49,725.
           
Odd items collected at the cleanup, included a huge inflatable Santa Claus in Mayport Village, as well as toys, mattresses, tents and fluorescent lights.