FAIRPOINT - The mild winter and early spring weather has made it possible for a lot of people in the area to get a jump on some early spring cleaning.
That was evident on Saturday, when the JB Green Team's annual community cleanup events kicked off at the Wheeling Township Garage in Fairpoint.
Each year, the series of community cleanups begins in Fairpoint with a joint cleanup event for Wheeling and Union townships. Saturday's first cleanup of 2012 appeared to serve as a precursor of things to come for future cleanups this spring.
Article Photos
T-L Photo/ERIC AYRES
ARE YOUTH and personnel from the Belmont County C-CAP?program always play a key roll in helping fill the dumpsters and trucks during the annual community cleanup programs put own by the JB Green Team and the townships. T.J. Ney, left, C-CAP?probation officer, and Lance Mehl, right, C-CAP?director, were on hand Saturday in Fairpoint as local residents discarded truckloads of junk for an early spring cleaning.
"We were scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and by 9:45 a.m. we already had about 26 vehicles lined up,"?said Tammy Sheppherd, Belmont County program director for JB Green Team. "I think all the warm weather we've been having has given people a chance to do a lot of cleaning up beforehand at home."
All kinds of household junk, old furniture, appliances, tires, car batteries and other items are accepted during the cleanups, which are scheduled in townships throughout Belmont County each spring.
People interested in cleaning up their properties - either inside or outside - are encouraged to load up the junk and drop it off at the community cleanup, where the JB Green Team and its volunteers gather truckloads and dumpster-loads of materials for disposal. And its all free for those who wish to take advantage of this service.
New this year for the cleanups is an electronics recycling truck which accepts old electronic devices of all sorts that are being discarded. In previous years, electronic items could not be dropped off at the community cleanups - residents had to wait for an annual electronics recycling event instead.
The JB Green Team, volunteers and youth in the Belmont County C-CAP (Concentrated Conduct Adjustment Program), township trustees and crews, and other volunteers help make each community cleanup a success.
Metals, other recycleables, tires and general trash are all separated and organized during the dropoffs, which have become very popular among local residents who look forward to the cleanups every year.
Those are the people who take pride in their own properties and inspire others around them to do the same, cleanup enthusiasts maintain.
Items not accepted at community collections include food waste, leaves, tree or grass clippings, construction or demolition debris, paints, liquids or other hazardous waste materials.
Anyone interested in cleaning a neighborhood road site - including individuals or community organizations - can drop off collections at any community cleanup event for disposal.
"Please let us know if you have cleaned a site," said Sheppherd. "We want to thank you!"
Trash bags are available for such projects by contacting the JB Green Team's local office.
The next community cleanup is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Saturday, March 24, in Colerain Township. This year's cleanup in Colerain Township will be at a new location - RST Excavating's Garage, 71181 Colerain St., Bridgeport (which is the mailing address - the location is actually in Colerain on the north side of U.S. 250 directly across from Belmont 14 - Farmington Road.
Future cleanups, which will continue to be announced throughout the spring as they approach, include:
March 31, Pease Township
April 14, Goshen Township
April 21, Flushing Township/Holloway
April 28, Warren Township/Barnesville
May 5, Pultney Township
May 12, Richland Township
May 19, Mead Township
For more information on these cleanups, recycling programs or other related projects, contact the JB Green Team's Belmont County Office at (740)?296-5376.
Ayres can be reached at eayres@timesleaderonline.com.
