Community Corner
Shelton Clean Sweep Invites Volunteers to Fight Litter
New 'Adopt-a-Street' campaign extends annual weeklong Earth Day event to year-round
Residents, scouts and youth groups, businesses and community organizations are signing up to join the Shelton Clean Sweep, the city’s annual, weeklong anti-litter event.
Shelton Conservation Agent Teresa Gallagher said the Clean Sweep is a citywide cleanup by volunteers that is held in conjunction with Earth Day. She said it has been very successful since it started in 2008. "We hope to build on that success."
This year, Earth Day is on Good Friday, so the Clean Sweep will be held from April 16 to 24.
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Individuals, neighbors, business colleagues or organized groups can join by signing up online at www.DontTrashShelton.org. The city allocates a modest budget to provide garbage bags and garden gloves to the volunteers. Participants also get free iron-on commemorative patches.
"It’s all automatic. People just go to the website and it’s all there," Gallagher said.
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The website also contains a list of Clean Sweep projects that volunteers have already scheduled.
The event started after some concerned residents complained to Mayor Mark Lauretti about the growing litter problem in Shelton. Lauretti and the Board of Aldermen responded by forming the Shelton Anti-Litter Committee, which started the Clean Sweep as part of its efforts to fight litter.
Gallagher said this year the committee is also signing up volunteers, businesses and civic groups for Adopt-a-Street. They will make a commitment to hold cleanups on a designated stretch of roadway in the city at least four times a year.
"And in return they get a sign on the road with their name on it," Gallagher said. "It’s a great way to contribute to the community."
She said litter campaigns such as the Clean Sweep can make a big difference. People are less likely to litter if the streets are clean, especially if they see volunteers picking up litter.
Gallagher also urged Shelton residents to take care to secure their trash cans and trash bags on refuse collection days. Much of the trash on city streets comes out of improperly secured trash receptacles.
