AMSTERDAM — Several tons of trash and debris are expected to again be collected by hundreds of volunteers across Amsterdam during the annual Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“This is just everybody coming together to pitch in to help,” said Rob Spagnola, director of the city’s Tourism, Marketing and Recreation Department. “It really makes a difference.”
Volunteers can pick up gloves and garbage bags at Veterans Park in the morning where free breakfast, lunch and beverages will be provided.
Montgomery County District 9 Legislator Robert Purtell and Century 21 Purtell Realty are once again sponsoring the civic-minded activity.
“I love this event,” Purtell said. “I’ve seen the reflection on the quality of life and people from outside our community’s perception of what Amsterdam is as it became a cleaner community.”
Around four tons of trash are collected from streets, streams and other public spaces during the annual cleanup, according to Purtell, who has been involved in the event from the start.
“In 20 years, over 80 tons of garbage that would have laid stagnant in our fields has been cleaned up and put in its proper place,” Purtell said.
A huge turnout is expected this year with staff from a number of local businesses and volunteers from area organizations expected to work alongside residents
“This is really truly about teamwork and making the city a better place to live,” Spagnola said.
Widespread involvement is key each year to collecting the pockets of litter revealed by the spring thaw spilled from garbage cans over the winter and other debris commonly buried under snowbanks.
Of course, Spagnola said the city’s appearance is always immediately improved, but the impact is not just short term thanks to the growing community support.
“Every year, it's getting a little cleaner and people are taking notice,” Spagnola said. “Everybody is making more of an effort to make the city a nice place to be.”
Past cleanups dispelled some of the city’s more distressed areas and residents have seemingly been inspired to stay on top of routine maintenance in others.
Recreation staff scout out troubled areas ahead of Earth Day in order to direct volunteers to areas in need of attention. That list has narrowed over the years.
“It’s nowhere near what we've seen in the past,” Spagnola said.
Still, he said there are plenty of areas to keep volunteers busy on Saturday.
Officials are ready to recommend areas for spring cleanup or volunteers are welcome to tackle sites of their own selection, often sprucing up their own neighborhoods.
When they’re finished, Spagnola said the city will come around to pick up their collected trash.
“It’s a great social event in our community. It's an ice breaker into the spring and summer seasons to come out and get fresh air and help clean our community,” Purtell said.
Areas identified by the city for the annual cleanup include:
- Green Hill Cemetery hill by Church Street
- Bottom of Forest Avenue — both sides of street
- Forest Avenue across the street from Flat Rock
- Lyon Street across from Rockton House
- Upper Lyon Street by the billboard
- Clizbe Avenue across from Isabel’s Field
- Lower Veterans Park, across the street and sidewalk
- Lower Locust Avenue by the billboard
- Prospect Street, including the parking lot and by the creek
- Elizabeth Street behind Rite Aid
- Vacant lots next to 62 Elizabeth St.
- Vacant lots on Meadow Street
- Vacant lots on lower Brookside Avenue and the corner of Meadow Street
- Route 30 traffic island across from Executive Group
- Wall Street
- Bell Hill
- West Main Street by the railroad tracks