EAST LIVERPOOL - Mayor Jim Swoger and representatives of local public and private organizations officially launched the city's annual environmental project during a meeting Tuesday at city hall.
"I commend the citySweep sponsors for their community spirit." Swoger said. "Through their volunteer efforts, they help keep our local sources of drinking water safer and the land cleaner."
The collection and environmentally responsible disposal of household hazardous wastes are available again this year. Residents are invited to take their old household chemicals, used motor oils and obsolete electronics to Heritage-WTI on April 21.
Article Photos
CitySweep participants met Tuesday at City Hall in preparation for the April 21 event. Pictured are (front, from left) Chris Jacobs, Carroll-Columbiana-Harrison Solid Waste District; Marie Traina, Heritage-WTI; Mayor Jim Swoger; Pam Hoppel, East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce; and (back) Ryan Estell, city services-safety director; Chuck Wade and Ron Wolf, East Liverpool Kiwanis Club; and John Peterka, East Liverpool Rotary Club. (Submitted photo)
As in recent years, the company will accept e-scrap, which includes all computer- system components, light bulbs and batteries. Members of the company's Relay for Life team will be on hand to accept old cell phones.
Wallover Oil will be at the facility again to collect used motor oil for recycling. And East Liverpool City Hospital will exchange mercury thermometers for digital ones.
The collection will take place April 21 at the Heritage-WTI facility in the city's East End between 8 a.m. and noon. As in the past, it is free of charge. Identification and certification that the material comes from household use is required.
Since its inception in 1997, company volunteers have recycled and disposed of more than 86 tons of household chemicals that otherwise most likely would have been tossed in the trash or dumped down the drain. During the collection, Heritage-WTI will distribute about $6,000 in grants to deserving schools and civic groups. The grants will help fund environmental projects in the community.
Following the grant presentations, the company will announce the winners of the first-ever environmental essay contest. Earth Preservers, a national environmental newsletter for middle-school students, is co-sponsoring the contest with Heritage-WTI.
Also that day, the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a cleanup of the downtown area from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are invited to meet at the chamber's office at the corner Sixth and Market streets before 9 a.m.
And East Liverpool is holding its Spring Cleanup that day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents with a current water bill can dispose of their household items at the Car Barn at 1253 Pennsylvania Ave.
Members of the Rotary Club of East Liverpool are planning to help shut-in residents dispose of their household hazardous wastes and scrap metal that Saturday. Details will be announced soon.
Swoger noted that citySweep has become a springtime tradition for the community. The project, which began in 1999 with six sponsors, is holding steady with 13 this year.
The sponsors of citySweep 2010 are the city of East Liverpool, the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, the East Liverpool Kiwanis Club, the East Liverpool Rotary Club, the East Liverpool City Hospital, the Carroll-Columbiana-Harrison Solid Waste District, Heritage-WTI, Wallover Oil, Tim Hortons, The Review, Froggy 104.3 FM, Pickle 92.1 and WTOV-TV9.
