Celebrate Earth Day with Community-wide Trash Cleanup on Saturday, April 23, 9 am – 1 pm
In celebration of Earth Day, the anti-litter program Pick It Up – Toss No Mas will partner with other groups in Grant County for a community-wide trash cleanup on Saturday, April 23rd.
Join Pick It Up – Toss No Mas in Gough Park in Silver City from 9 am – 1 pm; Santa Clara Action Committee and Heart of the Gila at Viola Stone Park in Santa Clara from 10 am – 1 pm; and Representative Luis Terrazas at Terrazas Funeral Home on Highway 180 from 9 am – noon.
“For more than 50 years, Earth Day has inspired billions around the world to fight for a clean environment. Here locally, Gila Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to help you do your part to protect our planet by cleaning up litter in Grant County. Join one of the community trash cleanups and help keep Silver City and our county clean and beautiful,” said Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner, founder of the Pick It Up – Toss No Mas anti-litter campaign. “Thanks to more than 150 volunteers the program has picked up over 5,000 pounds of trash, debris and recyclables from roads and waterways in Silver City since October.”
Meet the Pick It Up – Toss No Mas team in the parking lot on the south side of Gough Park in Silver City at 9 am on Saturday, April 23 and pick up trash bags, gloves, trash pickers and snacks. Volunteers will spend the morning cleaning up litter at a location of their choice and then return to Gough Park between 12 pm and 1pm to drop off trash and recyclables and record their cleanup results. The New Mexico Department of Transportation will collect the trash and haul it to the landfill. Recyclables will be collected by Silver City Recycles. Pre-register at silvercitywatershedkeepers.org or register on-site at the event.
Heart of the Gila and the Santa Clara Action Committee are again teaming up to clean up Cameron Creek on Earth Day. Volunteers can come anytime between 10am and 1pm to Viola Stone Park in Santa Clara to be part of the effort.
“Cameron Creek is really a beautiful place, with native trees and plants, and we want to help make it a place where families can bring their children to play. We will be providing work gloves for adults and kids, free snacks, and trash bags. Everyone is invited to participate,” said Elysha Montoya, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Heart of the Gila.
Representative Luis Terrazas will be hosting volunteers from 9 am – noon at Terrazas Funeral Home to clean up Highway 180 in the Mining District. Trash bags, gloves, and vests will be provided.
“During the last 18 months we have seen great progress with volunteers getting involved in cleaning up our roadways and beautification of our communities. I have been able to work with the Southwest Solid Waste Authority on enforcing covered loads; also with municipalities, community organizations and the DOT in coordinating trash pickup events. Thank you, Grant County! Let’s continue to work together in making our community and environment a cleaner and a more welcoming place,” said Representative Luis Terrazas.
Last year’s Gila Earth Day community-wide trash cleanup collected more than two tons of litter and debris from roads and waterways throughout Grant County.
Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Because children under 12 are not permitted on state highways for the cleanup, families with younger children are encouraged to clean up litter in their neighborhood, local parks or waterways.
Monthly Pick It Up – Toss No Mas cleanup events are held the third Saturday of every month. Community members can also adopt a roadway or waterway to take care of and clean up throughout the year. Signups to adopt a roadway or waterway will take place at the Silver City event in Gough Park.
Pick It Up – Toss No Mas community cleanup events are partially funded by a grant from New Mexico Clean and Beautiful and are sponsored by the Town of Silver City, Silver City Watershed Keepers, Silver City Recycles, Silver City MainStreet, SWNMACT, Southwest Solid Waste Authority, and New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Toss No Mas Program.
More information for the event can be found at silvercitywatershedkeepers.org or contact Silver City Watershed Keepers coordinator Leigh Jenkins at 575-538-8078 or via email at pickituptossnomas@gmail.com
