Help de-trash on Green Up Day - May 7

Vermont was the first state to designate a day of the year to clean up litter along the roadsides.

Green Up Day started 52 years ago in 1970. The first year, participation and results far exceeded expectations.

According to a release from Charlotte’s Green Up Day coordinators, 95 percent of the 2,400 miles of the interstate and state roads and 75 percent of the 8,300 miles of town roads were cleared of garbage, that first year.

Vermont’s wonderful tradition of de-trashing will be celebrated this year 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday, May 7. As usual the collection site will be the parking lot on the west side of Charlotte Central School.

Axel Macik cleans up at a previous year’s Green Up Day. Courtesy photo.

As in the past, the annual e-waste recycling will once again be sponsored by Sustainable Charlotte at the event.

The coordinators believe these are the things you should know about Green Up Day in Charlotte:

Sign up for a route (three ways): 1) on our website charlottevtgreenupday.com until 6 p.m., Friday, May 6; 2) email Kim at until 6 p.m., Friday, May 6; or 3) at the event on Saturday, May 7. Signing up for a route makes sure everyone gets a road that hasn’t been cleaned up yet.

Get bags: This year green bags for trash will be given out and optional clear bags for redeemable and recyclable plastic containers that get rinsed and recycled. Bags can be picked up at the Old Brick Store, the library and Spear’s Corner Store starting April 30 and at the event on Saturday. Please do not leave filled bags on the roadside — they must be returned to the event site.

Volunteer: Volunteers are needed. Co-coordinators Ken Spencer and Kim Findlay would love to have helpers at the Quonset Hut. Two-hour (or more) shifts available.

Tires: The de-trashers will only accept tires found on roadsides. This is not the place to get rid of your personal tires. The Chittenden Solid Waste District transfer stations take tires.

Hazardous waste: This is not a hazardous waste drop off event.

Visit Our Website: It has all the information you need and lots more, or contact Kim with any questions, to help out, or sign up for a route.

Findlay said, “It warms my heart to see folks out cleaning up our town together. Whether driving, biking or walking around town, isn’t it great to not see that junk on the side of the road and to share a collective feeling of stewardship?”