It's time for spring cleaning in the Valley

Volunteers will be sprucing up towns around the Alle-Kiski Valley this weekend as part of the annual Great PA Cleanup.

This is the third year that the Greensburg-based organization PA Cleanways, along with the state Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation, have sponsored the event that encourages communities to have a spring cleanup.

Cleanup coordinator Jolene Naugle said event organizers are encouraging towns that have cleanups to register them with the state program because the state then can better track local efforts. Also, groups can get state assistance, such as advertising and supplies, by joining the Great PA Cleanup.

"It's a way for us to mobilize volunteers," Naugle said.

She said an estimated 140,000 volunteers participated in last year's cleanup. More than 3,000 tons of litter was collected.

Naugle said preliminary numbers show this year's cleanup effort should eclipse last year's totals.

She also encouraged participating groups to report their results so she can keep track of what is collected and cleaned. Groups that report their activities will be registered for prizes including a hybrid car, mini-vacations around the state and Home Depot gift cards.

"It's not too late to register," Naugle said.

Although the Great PA Cleanup is a two-month affair that began on March 1 and continues through May, most activities occur this weekend because Earth Day is Saturday. Several more are scheduled for next Saturday, which is Arbor Day.

Two local revitalization groups have sponsored cleanups for this weekend.

Bill Godfrey, spokesman for Natrona Comes Together, said volunteers will be combing the streets and alleys for litter. He said more than 12 tons of garbage was hauled away at a cleanup event last fall.

"I think it's good for Natrona because there's a correlation between litter and graffiti and crime and drugs," Godfrey said. "Anything we can do will help."

Godfrey said volunteers will be meeting at the Natrona ballpark before scattering throughout the town. He said in addition to collecting litter from the roads, he hopes some people will be able to clean up along the Allegheny River and plant some trees.

"I think the riverbanks are the most beautiful part of our town," Godfrey said.

In Vandergrift, borough residents will be able to bring garbage not usually accepted in regular trash collection to a parking lot along Columbia Avenue.

Vandergrift Improvement Program member Brian Pomfret said East Vandergrift residents also are invited to participate.

Objects such as car batteries, appliances and tires will be accepted. No hazardous materials or paint can be dropped off and there will be a fee for tires and appliances containing Freon.

Pomfret said borough workers also will pickup garbage from the homes of senior citizens or others who aren't able to transport items to the collection site. Residents should call the Vandergrift borough office at 724-567-7818 or the East Vandergrift office at 724-567-7213 today or Friday to arrange pickup.

"It's good for the town," Pomfret said of the cleanup day. "It also saves the borough a lot of money on landfill costs."

Naugle with PA Cleanways noted that landfills waive tipping fees usually charged for dumping trash for groups participating in the statewide event.