Cleaning Up
Belmont County Clean Up Events
Monday, March 22, 2010

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Spring has arrived, and this past weekend, spring cleaning took to the outdoors as the first of many community cleanups took place in Fairpoint.

Officials from both Wheeling and Union townships joined those from Keep Belmont County Beautiful, local students in the Belmont County C-CAP (Concentrated Conduct Adjustment Program) alternative school and others for Saturday's event.

Made possible through funding from the Belmont-Jefferson Solid Waste Authority, the annual cleanups offer one of the best opportunities available to citizens who take pride in their neighborhoods.

It's like having the dump come to your community and accept virtually anything you need to get rid of ... free of charge.

Community cleanups have been taking place for a number of years now, and each year, literally dozens of dumpsters full of trash are collected and discarded.

Old furniture, tires, and general junk and trash are accepted at the community cleanups. Tires and metal are collected for recycling, and future programs will offer recycling of old electronic devices.

During this past weekend's event, the Ohio Valley relief center was on hand during the cleanup in Fairpoint to collect reusable items such as old furniture being discarded that could still be utilized by families in need of such items.

Just as they say - one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Township trustees said a lot of people who take advantage of the cleanups express their appreciation to those who make the program happen. We all should appreciate not only those individuals who coordinate the community cleanups, but also those people who participate.

You inspire others to do the same when you take pride in your community by maintaining your own property and keeping it looking the best it can. As trustees stressed, when people see trash thrown onto the side of the road or junk piled up onto properties, litter bugs don't think twice about adding to the mess by throwing a fast food bag or cup out of the window of their vehicle. When properties are clean and well maintained, even the worst littering offenders tend to refrain from engaging in their bad habits.

With several dates scheduled throughout this spring, the next community cleanup is this Saturday in Maynard, and any resident of the county is welcome to take part in the cleanup. We urge everyone to do so.

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