Township to kick off cleanup on Earth Day

Other events include street sweeping and an appliance drop off day.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Ongoing efforts to keep the township clean kick off with Earth Day.
An open house kickoff is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 22, Earth Day, at the township road department.
The aim is education and awareness about recycling, said Jim Petuch, executive director of the Mahoning County Reuse & amp; Recycle Division, better known as the Green Team.
Although it's part of a township cleanup, officials from Youngstown and Mahoning County will be invited to the open house to encourage a community-wide effort.
Displays of environmental organizations will be on hand and residents will be encouraged to clean up their properties, he said.
Petuch said they also want to get community and civic groups involved to help with the cleanup.
But township trustees say that's just the beginning.
"We want the community to understand that we want this to go on," said Trustee Kathy Miller. "This isn't just a one-time thing."
Other events
On April 29, they plan a Drop-and-Run event, where residents bring unwanted, but reusable items to a central location to be picked up by a charity organization.
An appliance drive is set for the first week in May, and the Green Team is giving the township's recycling program $5,000 to pay a company to remove freon.
Larry Wilson, township road superintendent, is working with officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Youngstown street department and Mahoning County Engineer's office to have street sweepers from those entities and from the township all sweeping streets the same day. That date is to be announced.
"It's a continuum of spring cleanup," Trustee Robyn Gallitto said.