Pilot litter trap installed in Eslava Creek

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The city of Mobile, in partnership with Dog River Clearwater Revival Group, has installed its a pilot litter trap located on Holcomb Avenue at Eslava Creek.

City officials said the installation started Tuesday, Dec. 4 and it should finish Wednesday, Dec. 5.

The trap was purchased from Applied Fabric technology Inc. and cost the city about $36,000. The city of Mobile will be responsible for emptying it.

The Dog River Clearwater Revival Group sent a letter of intent to the city back in February insisting the city do something to clear the waterway. It never turned into a lawsuit because the city settled with the group.

"The city acknowledged the city is responsible for the litter pollution from its storm water system, which was a first big step," said the group's attorney, Rick Courtney.

The trap is designed to catch trash that flows from Airport Blvd. and the Bel Air Mall area, down Eslava Creek.

Mobile Baykeeper Executive Director, Casi Callaway said although there is still more work to be done, the trap is a step in the right direction.

“This one trash trap on Eslava Creek is a huge step to really understand how much is coming from where and if this is a really good way to solve the problem,” said Callaway.

Callaway believes keeping trash out of the streets is the best way to fix the problem.

"We’ve got to find ways to make sure that people stop littering…because it ends up in our bays are rivers and our fish,” said Callaway.

Both Dog River residents and Callaway agree, just one trap may not completely solve the problem. But it's better than nothing.

"That's the old saying you've got to start the journey of a thousand miles with one step. So, hurray for this and I'm glad the city is taking responsibility for the cleaning out of it, that's a good partnership,” said Dog River Resident, Martha Semon.