OSWEGO, NY – The public is invited to help with some spring cleaning.
April 22 is designated as Earth Day.
The Oswego County Environmental Management Council invites individuals, schools, organizations and groups to participate in Oswego County’s Earth Week 2010, April 17 to 25.
Oswego County is blessed with a variety of water resources, from Lake Ontario, to an abundance of rivers and streams, to potable ground water and pure water aquifers.
Water pollution and contamination can come from two sources: Point Source Pollution, where contaminants directly enter our water resources, and Non-Point Source Pollution, where contaminants seep into the ground and find their way to ground water, leaching and entering aquifers, rivers and lakes.
Non-point is the major contributor to pollution and contamination of our water resources, according to Dick Drosse, Earth Week coordinator for the EMC.
“By cleaning up litter, following the three Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and helping by planting trees, establishing rain and habitat gardens, we are protecting our land and water resources that sustain us all,” he explained. “For Earth Week, we ask that you select a cleanup site or take part in a project that helps protect and sustain our county’s environment. Aside from a visual eyesore, trash and litter pollute and contaminate our ground and water resources.”
Visit the county Department of Solid Waste website http://www.co.oswego.ny.us/dsw.shtml for information about what can be brought to the solid waste facilities.
Electronics are still included for a small fee.
Helpful tips on recycling and composting are listed.
This year’s dates for bringing in hazardous materials are posted.
Batteries can always be dropped off, but no wet cell batteries are accepted.
The Lions Club also accepts cell phones, which are then reconditioned and donated to non-profit groups.
From the EMC Earth Week website listed below, you can obtain participation forms and hyperlinks to updated materials about the projects and topics mentioned above as well as Earth Day School Projects and ideas, plus other environmental information, or use the e-mail or phone number listed below. You can even check your Carbon Footprint.
The new NYS Open Burn Law can be linked from the EW site using this DEC link: http://www.erie.gov/newstead/pdfs/NYS_Burning_Law_2009.pdf
The NYS Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails NY have designated April 16, 17 and 18 for the fifth Canal Clean Sweep.
Any interested groups or towns along the Canal Corridor should contact Wally Elton at: [email protected] or (518) 434-1583.
To help with Habitat for Humanity, Novelis asks that you donate any recyclable aluminum cans collected, to the Cans for Habitat Program. Local redemption centers will credit these cans towards the Habitat donation.
SUNY Oswego will host a Sustainability Fair for Green Living, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Home Building.
For more information about the fair, go to: http://www.oswego.edu/about/leadership/sustainability/sustainabilityfair.html
Oswego County would like to acknowledge those who take part in the Earth Week projects, Drosse noted.
If your group is in need of any of the listed items, or would like photos of your project published, information and a participation form can be obtained from the Earth Week website, he added.
Trash bags will be available upon request through the cooperation of Oswego County Building and Grounds.
Collection of the litter should be arranged with your city/town/village.
Roadside litter collections turned over to city/town/village for Earth Week can be disposed of with no tipping fee, courtesy of Oswego County Solid Waste.
A limited number of safety vests are available for those groups or individuals working roadside cleanups.
Work gloves, if needed, will again be available through a contribution from Novelis.
For more information, go to http://www.oswegocounty.com/earthweek.html
To view photos of 2010 Earth Week or photos of last year’s events, go to:
http://web.mac.com/oswegocountygreen
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