Mayor urges cleanup program participation
Mayor Patrick Madden is encouraging Troy residents to get involved in the city’s annual Citywide Earth Day Cleanup Program next month.
Each April, Troy residents, families and business owners come together to organize community-driven cleanup and beautification projects at local parks, green spaces, and neighborhoods across the Collar City.
Earth Day 2021 is Thursday, April 22. Cleanup projects will be held between April 17 and April 25.
“Earth Day 2021 is an opportunity to reimagine how we can safely gather to beautify our neighborhoods for the environmental benefit the entire community,” Madden said.
“During this pandemic, we have faced many challenges that have kept us apart,” Madden noted.
“I invite everyone to safely gather for this year’s annual Earth Day cleanup program for the greater good for the planet, its ecological systems and our own city,” Madden added.
Troy residents can make an impact on a neighborhood level, including:
• Participate in a small-scale alley cleanup at recommended physical distance
• Adopt a park or other greenspace with your neighbors and collaborate to improve the appearance of it throughout the seasons
If you are organizing a neighborhood cleanup, the City will provide clear bags for litter cleanup and yard bags for organic materials. Additional promotional materials, including Prevent Food Waste magnets and recycling bin stickers, will be available for neighborhoods to distribute to help promote sustainability.
To organize a project in your neighborhood, send the following information to Renee Panetta, City Recycling Coordinator, at (518) 279-7171 or renee.panetta@troyny.gov:
• meeting location (intersection, address or park)
• start and end time of cleanup
• date of cleanup (between April 17 through April 25)
• organizer contact information (phone number and email address)
On an individual level, Troy residents can take many actions to make a difference:
• Be part of the #518RainbowHunt by placing a rainbow in your window.
• Take the Earth Day Challenge, a 22-day series that allows people to connect through challenges to take action right now, and every day, for our planet.
• Explore backyard composting options at your home by visiting the second annual online store (backyard composting and rain barrel equipment sale)
• Beautify, clean up and improve your garden, front walk, or your front/back yards
• Host a virtual screening party for “The Story of Plastic” or another earth-centric movie
• Plant trees in your yard or alley for Arbor Day (April 24) or sponsor a tree to be planted elsewhere
• Visit NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website for Earth Day tips: https:// www.dec.ny.gov/public/101402. html
• Visit Earth Day Initiative for their recommendations: http:// www.earthdayinitiative.org/
• Take an Earth Day pledge: https://www.earthday.org/2020-pledge/
Residents are reminded to follow public health guidelines (wearing a mask, social distancing) to keep you safe and healthy.