Solid Waste District Mobilizing Volunteers and Local Donations for Clean It Up Day

Solid-Waste-District-Mobilizing-Volunteers-and-Local-Donations-for-Clean-It-Up-Day-01Pitch in to clean up your neighborhood, county road, or any public space of your choice with the La Porte County Solid Waste District – and get everything you need to do it! The District is expanding its annual Clean It Up Day litter cleanup event this year into a Clean It Up program. Instead of just one day, groups will now be able to choose any date in April or May that is most convenient for them or their organization.

“The unsightly presence of litter in a community has an impact on all residents’ quality of life. Cleaning it up is a fun and easy way to celebrate Earth Day and get involved with community service,” said Alicia Ebaugh, education and public outreach coordinator for the Solid Waste District. “Last year around 350 people participated in more than 40 cleanups countywide, and we’d like to have even more this year.”

Now in its sixth year, our Clean It Up program is put on with help from several government agencies, as well as generous donations from local businesses and the national non-profit group Keep America Beautiful. More than 2.3 million people volunteer each year for KAB’s Great American Cleanup activities in more than 15,000 communities throughout the U.S., participating in cleanup, beautification and community improvement activities.

To participate, all you need to do is choose a place to clean up and a date for you or a group to do it anytime in April or May. We have included a list of suggested locations, but there are many others in need of attention. We’ll arrange for the collected trash to be picked up, if needed. The District is accepting signups for this program through May 1.

People and groups who sign up to participate in Clean It Up Day will receive garbage bags to complete their cleanup, and bottled water and snacks to fuel them through their work. The District will have work gloves and visibility vests available to lend to individuals who need them, as well, thanks to generous donations from Republic Services, Waste Management, Michigan City Fifth Ward Councilwoman Sharon Carnes and NIPSCO. Other Clean It Up donors include Family Express and American Licorice.

Rewards for volunteers will include a coupon for a free pizza donated by Domino’s in Michigan City or Wana Pizza at all of their La Porte County locations. We are also working with the Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City to make a limited number of free one-day passes good for this year available to volunteers who complete their projects the soonest. Rewards will be issued to people or groups that take photos during the cleanup, including a group shot with the collected trash, and send them to us by cellphone text or email after the cleanup is completed.

Solid-Waste-District-Mobilizing-Volunteers-and-Local-Donations-for-Clean-It-Up-Day-02Ebaugh said that many groups in the community have already indicated their interest in the cleanup, including political and religious organizations, school clubs, Girl and Boy Scout troops and families across the county.

“Caring for the environment that surrounds us is everyone’s responsibility, and everyone should get involved,” Ebaugh said.

To sign up or to donate food or materials to this event, contact Alicia Ebaugh at (219) 326-0014 or email her at aebaugh@solidwastedistrict.com.

National sponsors of the 2017 Great American Cleanup include Altria, Dow, The Glad Products Company, Lowe's, Niagara Bottling and ReadyRefresh by Nestlé.

Places identified in need of litter cleanup in Michigan City:

  • Trail Creek Greenway Trail – Litter cleanup
  • Gardena Park – Limbs, sticks, leaves along ball field fences garbage in wood lines
  • Fedders – Limbs, sticks, leaves and garbage throughout Fedders and in brush area north of parking lot (towards the beach)
  • Westcott – Flower cut backs, weeding, leaves and garbage on hill and along wood lines
  • Water Tower – Limbs, sticks, leaves and garbage in and along wood lines
  • Washington Park (not the beach) – Limbs, sticks, garbage, shelters
  • Sr. Center – Garbage in the dune grass around the entire bldg. and out the back door area.
  • Liberty Trail – Garbage along road. Rake and clean up around trees along Liberty Trail
  • Oak Hills – Limbs, sticks, leaves, garbage and play area
  • Hansen – limbs, sticks, leaves, and garbage throughout park and wood lines
  • ALL of Woodland Ave (Michigan Blvd area and moving south to Pahs Road.
  • Barker Ave. (two corners on at intersection of Barker Ave and Woodland Ave.)
  • Barker Road (from Woodland Ave to Cleveland Ave.)
  • Corner area south of Petco and East of Ross
  • Ohio Street north of St. John Road (small wooded area)
  • St. John Road (from Franklin Street to Ohio Street) and behind old Marquette Theater
  • Cleveland Ave Corridor (from Hwy 20 and moving south)
  • Meijer Ave/ Timm Road/ Movie Theater area
  • Small corridor from Franklin St/421 going to Walmart by Denny's
  • Empty lot across the street from Panera Bread (next to Ryans) and small wooded area moving west
  • Empty Lot just north of Al's on Franklin Street
  • Small area on Johnson Road in between Hwy 20 and Pahs Road across from farmer's field.

Places identified in need of litter cleanup in La Porte area:

  • Fox Park (especially along wooded areas)
  • Kesling Park (especially along east and south park boundaries)
  • All of Johnson Road, from Hwy 20 moving south toward Summit Farm