The snows are melting, and as they reveal the grass and sprouting crocuses, they also reveal the pile up of litter that’s accumulated over the winter months.
In honor of Earth Day on April 22, multiple towns across the region are putting out the call to their residents to become eco-defenders by joining in on town-wide clean up days.
In Jaffrey, from April 21-23, residents will coordinate the cleanup of both state highways, town roads, and the downtown, organized by the Jaffrey Chamber.
Ten Jaffrey businesses will be cleaning up their adopted sections of highways, including MilliporeSigma, Belletetes, D.D. Bean and Son, Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, Given Masonry, Coll’s Garden Center & Florist, Monadnock Disposal Service, Hampsey & Grenier, Dust to Shine Cleaning and Katsura Landscaping.
On Saturday, April 22, TEAM Jaffrey and the Jaffrey Civic Center will hold their Annual Spring Cleanup events sprucing up the downtown areas, and the roadside cleanup will be from April 22 through April 30. Blue bags are available at the Town Recycling Center, TD Bank and the Jaffrey Chamber.
Lyndeborough’s 2017 Road Clean Up Week will be from April 15 through April 22. Residents can sign up to sponsor a specific road by calling the town office. A full list of available streets is available on the town’s website.
Collected trash can be deposited at Citizens’ Hall on Saturday, April 22, for residents to dispose of any road clean up debris.
New Ipswich Town Wide Clean Up is scheduled for April 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Town Offices.
Bags will be available in the lobby at the town office starting April 11. Please message the Recreation Deptment with the roads you are cleaning so the Department of Public Works will know where to do pickups.
Free hot dogs will be offered to clean-up participants.
There are several ways to participate in Peterborough’s annual Earth Day roadside pick-up, Friday, April 21 through Tuesday, April 25.
The town provides designated blue trash bags to volunteers,
Blue bags are available at the Select Board Office at the Town House, the Peterborough Library and Recyling Center and the Peterborough Highway Department picks up filled bags that are left along town roads during that period. The state picks up blue bags along state roads. .
Contact Francie Von Mertens of the Conservation Commission to join a team or sign up for a few stretches of the town’s 90 miles of roads that need volunteers at 924-6550 or vonmertens@myfairpointnet. ConVal Interact Club, Rotary, RiverMead, and Happy Valley and the Well School are among the groups that adopt significant road frontage.
On Saturday, April 15, the Rindge Woman’s Club will be at the Transfer Station from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. handing out blue bags for trash pickup. They will also be available throughout the week at the town offices, library, post office, TD Bank, the Meeting House, and the Recreation Center. Bring blue bags with road refuse to the Transfer Station on April 22 from 8 a.m. to noon. Participant can fill in a raffle ticket for each bag they bring in for a chance to win a $50 gift card. There will be two winners drawn, one for adults and one for a child.
On Saturday, April 29, Bennington celebrates its 9th Annual Earth Day by inviting residents to pick up litter along the roadsides. Come to the VFW at 8 a.m. to sign up for a route to clean and pick-up bags. The Bennington Conservation Commission will be offering a free breakfast starting at 8 a.m. for those who are participating. The event is sponsored by the Bennington Conservation Commission.
Bright clothing and gloves are recommended for the safety of volunteers.