The Effingham County Sanitation Department, in partnership with Republic Waste and South Effingham JROTC volunteers, is preparing to descend on debris, collect clutter and scavenge for scrap in an effort to keep Effingham beautiful and keep litter out of the waterways. Keeping the stormwater system clean is paramount to a healthy and vibrant community.
The community spring cleanup will be held March 21 from sunup to sundown. Citizens can bring their household trash, free of charge, to the receptacles that will be placed at the fire station on Roebling Road. Both refuse and recycling containers will be available.
For anyone planning to throw out that old sofa, trash that mattress or clean out the garage, now is the time to get it done. Hazardous materials such as tires, paint and aerosols will not be accepted during this event. These receptacles will be onsite from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the cleanup day.
In conjunction with the community-wide cleanup, volunteers are needed to help canvass the rights of way for litter and debris from 8 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will meet at the fire station parking lot and head out to walk the roads and neighborhoods in the Auriga Farms and Zeigler Road area, to clean litter and roadside trash from the culverts, ditches and water pathways to keep the community clean.
Community volunteers are encouraged to participate. If any community is interested in holding its own community clean-up, this is a great weekend to do so. All collected trash can be taken to the waste receptacles on Roebling Road fire station for disposal for free.
It is important to keep the stormwater system clean and operating properly to prevent flooding and protect the environment. Stormwater is rainwater that runs off yards, roofs and roadways; gravity pulls this water to low spots such as ditches, ponds and storm drains. This water collects soils, chemicals and other pollutants such as litter, fertilizer and soaps suds from washing cars. These contaminants enter the natural flow of water and end up in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers.
Once there, these pollutants can affect the aquatic lifecycles, plants and crops when the water is used for irrigation and even human health when we use these water bodies for recreation like swimming, or eat fish caught from these water bodies.
This effort would not be possible without the support of previously enlisted volunteers from South Effingham JROTC, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Effingham County Schools and Republic Waste. A community cleanup will be held in each commission district throughout 2015, thanks to Republic Waste. Citizens are encouraged to participate.
Community cleanup
• Who: Effingham County Sanitation Department, Repubic Waste, South Effingham High School JROTC
• When: March 21, 8 a.m.-noon
• Where: Roebling Road fire station
The cleanup effort is the first of several anticipated this year in the county, with similar efforts being conducted in the other county commission districts.
