Community Cleanup Day set for May 30

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
This group is sweaty but smiling after spending the morning picking up trash near Deer Meadow during last year's cleanup day.

The Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce and the Greencastle Civic League have named May 30 as Cleanup Day for Greencastle citizens. They are looking for volunteers to help spruce up the area.

People will gather at city hall at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 and then be assigned to groups to clean up the downtown square and surrounding areas.

"We are also looking for neighborhoods, families and people living on the same street to get together to clean up their neighborhood. They just need to call and register with us and we'll bring them supplies and designate an area where the trash will be picked up," said Greencastle Chamber Director Tammy Amor.

City hall is the central location for supplies and registration, but there will also be tables set up on the east side of First Financial Bank and at the Putnam County Comprehensive Services at 630 Tennessee Street. A volunteer will be at each location.

The cleanup day is set to go until noon, but anyone who can work even for an hour or two is welcome.

"Knowing that Saturday is the day after Greencastle High School's graduation, people who can only work for an hour or two can still participate," added Amor.

Wal-Mart is donating fruit, cereal bars and bottles of water. The city of Greencastle will supply trash bags and Hickory Creek at Sunset is donating work gloves. Groups just need to bring shovels and brooms.

On the same day, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., members of the Greencastle Civic League and West Central Solid Waste District (WCSWD) are teaming up for the county's 25th Annual Clean City Sweep/Tox Away Day at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

During Clean Sweep week, May 25 through 30, residents can gather their trash and toxic items, clean up their yards and neighborhoods and drop toxic items off at the fairgrounds on May 30.

"We want a cleaner, greener city," said Jamie Landry with the Greencastle Civic League.

A variety of items, ranging from aluminum cans and newspapers to old tires and refrigerators, will be accepted at the event. While many items will be accepted free of charge, others will be accepted for a nominal fee.

The Greencastle Civic League will be collecting bulky trash, excluding yard waste. Residents will be asked to pay a $7 per item fee for sofas, chairs, mattresses, TVs, grills (no tanks) and vacuum cleaners. Residents wanting to drop off a pick-up full of trash may do so for a fee based on truck size. The fee will range from $15 to $25 per load.

Jim Hardwick is hard at work cleaning up after the 4-H Parade last year. He took part in the city's cleanup day. This year cleanup day is set for May 30.

Volunteer workers from Wal-Mart Transportation will collect televisions and tox-away items from senior citizens and disabled persons living outside the city limits. The first 50 people to call WCSWD and ask for help will have volunteers collect their items.

West Central will filter the calls and work out the logistics and then send the requests on to Wal-Mart

"People need to get the material together. No set time will be given, so if you have to leave your home, put your items on the porch or where they can be picked up," said Carolyn Robinson from West Central.

Senior citizens living inside the city limits who might need help during this week can call the Department of Public Works.

While they do not have the equipment to handle heavy items, they will help with other items. There may be a charge for some items so please call to check.

Toxic items such as paint products (no latex), pesticides and household chemicals will be collected free of charge.

Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners will be accepted for a fee. Tires will also be accepted for a fee. No medical waste will be accepted.

Office hours at the Department of Public Works are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. It may be reached at 653-3391.

For questions about items for Tox-Away/Clean City Day call the WCSWD office at (800) 211-2750.

For more information or to sign up for Community Clean-up day, call the Chamber at 765-653-4517 or e-mail Amor at gchamber@gogreencastle.com

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: