HADLEY — Volunteers will remove trash and debris from the edge of streets, along trails and near rivers, streams and ponds on Saturday as part of the third annual cleanup day.
The Hadley Climate Change Committee is sponsoring the event that will have people fanning out to various locations from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Participants, signing up in advance, will begin their day at the east side of the Home Depot parking lot, at the corner of North Maple Street and Route 9, to share supplies, including trash bags and gloves, before heading out to designated locations.
Committee Chairman Jack Czajkowski told the committee at a recent meeting that anyone is welcome to help out, though signing up in advance is necessary so Solid Waste Solutions, which runs the town’s transfer station, can offer free drop off for what is picked up. Last year, Czajkowski said a number of tires were collected as part of more than 1,000 pounds of garbage.
Those who register will be able to bring the trash to the Cemetery Road site, whether or not their vehicle has a transfer station sticker. The trash from the cleanup can be brought until 3 p.m. People are advised to wear bright clothes and stay out of the roads. To register, go to: http://tinyurl.com/Springcleanupday2023
The cleanup comes as the Climate Change Committee works with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on getting a Green Communities application into the state’s Department of Energy Resources by March 31.
“We do want to get it in for the March 31 deadline, and not go another six months,” Czajkowski said.
PVPC Senior Planner Mimi Kaplan told the Select Board recently that she is writing an energy reduction plan that would help the town reduce energy usage and costs over time. The town has already adopted a fuel-efficient vehicle policy.
“We’re really in the last phase of this,” Kaplan said.
The energy reduction plan includes an energy audit that suggests energy conservation measures at town buildings, including the schools. The Hadley School Committee has already adopted the plan.
Kaplan said a $130,000 grant will come to Hadley once it is designated a Green Community, money that Czajkowski said could go toward improving pipe insulation, building envelopes and longer term projects.
The goal is to reduce the town’s energy use and have grants to achieve these, Kaplan said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
