Clean It Up Day- Solid Waste District

Pitch in to clean up your neighborhood, county road, or any public space from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 30, with the La Porte County Solid Waste District – and get everything you need to do it!
 
“Last year we sponsored more than 30 cleanups with around 300 volunteers, and we’d like to have even more this year,” said Alicia Ebaugh, education and public outreach coordinator for the Solid Waste District. “It’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day and get children involved with community service.”

Clean It Up Day is now in its fifth year, thanks to help from local businesses, government agencies 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. Many thanks to the Michigan City Refuse and Parks departments, as well as the Community Work Program under the guidance of La Porte County Sheriff's Deputy Bob Blair, for their continued assistance with these events!

People and groups who sign up to participate in Clean It Up Day will receive garbage bags, bottled water and snacks for all volunteers. We can also loan work gloves and vests to participants if you need them. After the cleanups, volunteers will be invited to a thank you luncheon at the Washington Park Zoo, where they will receive free admission to the zoo and get to enjoy live animal demonstrations with a few of the zoo's favorite residents. 

All you have to do is choose an area to clean up! There will probably also be neighborhood groups you can join in Michigan City and La Porte, and the zoo will also be taking volunteers that morning to help beautify the grounds.

Ebaugh 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.
 
The national sponsors of the 2016 Great American Cleanup include Altria, BNSF Railway, Dow, The Glad Products Company, Lowe’s and Niagara Bottling. Local sponsors include Wana Pizza, Domino's Pizza, Overboard at the Marina, Family Express, Hearthside Foods, AIM Water, Phart's Phat Macs and Custom Cakes and Momma Sue's Cafeteria.