Tox-Away Day to highlight Clean City Week

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Clean City Week, sponsored by the Greencastle Civic League and its partners, continues in the coming days with events on Thursday and Saturday, with Saturday's Tox-Away Day highlighting the week.

On Thursday from 2-5 p.m., all are welcome to join members of the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce who will be cleaning up the Greencastle Square in preparation for the first Farmers' Market, which kicks off its season on Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon. To participate in the clean up, meet outside of the courthouse at 2 p.m.

The signature event of the week will be the Putnam County Tox-Away Day, co-sponsored by the Greencastle Civic League and West Central Solid Waste District. This year the event will be held at the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m, rain or shine.

A variety of items, ranging from aluminum cans and newspapers to old tires and refrigerators, will be accepted at the event. Items that will not be accepted include yard waste, asbestos, explosives, ammunition, firearms, radioactive materials, lab chemicals, medical/infectious waste, grill propane tanks and alkaline batteries.

While many items will be accepted free of charge, others will be accepted for a nominal fee. Residents will be charged $7 per item fee for sofas, chairs, mattresses, grills (no tanks) and vacuum cleaners. Residents wanting to drop off a pick-up truck full of trash may do so for a fee based on load size, ranging from $15-$25 per load. CFC appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifies and air conditioners will be accepted for a $10 per-item fee. Non-CFC appliances such as stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters and microwaves will be accepted for a $5 per item fee.

Residents may also bring up to six caror light truck tires at no charge, with a $2 fee applied for each additional tire (maximum of 12 tires). The first two semi-truck tires will be accepted at no charge and $5.50 will be applied to each additional tire (maximum of four tires). Farm tires will also be accepted with the first two at no charge and a $15 fee for each additional tire (maximum of four tires). Tires on rims will be collected for a fee of $1.50 per tire.

A number of free items will be accepted. No fee will be applied for recyclable items including aluminum cans, plastics, clear, brown and green glass, cardboard, newspapers, junk mail and computer monitors, printers and keyboards. Items such as non-latex paint products (including oil-based paint, stains, paint thinner and remover), sealers, pesticides, household cleaners and chemicals, pool chemicals, elemental mercury, other mercury items such as thermometers and thermostats, oil filters, anti-freeze, fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts, automotive batteries, acids, bases and old fuels will be accepted free of charge.

If you have any questions about hazardous wastes, please contact West Central Solid Waste District at 653-2150.

Putnam County Tox-Away Day is open to residents only. Businesses are excluded.

Also, the Chamber businesses will be holding its Annual Community Clean-up Day on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at City Hall. Any individual, group or business that would like to participate should contact Tammy Amor at the Chamber office at 653-4517.

The day will start with a healthy breakfast sponsored by Walmart, then groups will be assigned to pick up areas. Trash bags and gloves will be provided by the city and Putnam County Hospital. The business or organization that has the most people volunteer will be presented with the Community Clean-up Day Traveling Plaque. Last year's winner was Putnam County Comprehensive Services. Additionally, the Greencastle Elementary class that has the most students volunteer for Community Clean-up Day will win a pizza party for their class.

The Greencastle Civic League will also plant and commemorate two trees during the week. One tree will be planted in honor of Kim Vickrey, an associate member and former president of the Greencastle Civic League who was a leader of Clean City Week for several years. A second tree will be planted in honor of the Greencastle Sustainability Commission for all of their work in connecting people and ideas for environmental solutions to strengthen our community, economy, culture and quality of life.

Additionally, DePauw University and several community organizations will partner for Move Out Day. As DePauw students move out of their residences at the end of the semester, they will have the opportunity to donate items in good condition to families in need. Items will be collected and donated to a number of organizations, including Family Support Services, the Senior Center, the Putnam County Humane Society, Goodwill and St. Andrew's Church Non-Food Pantry.

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