This Saturday, May 6, 2017 city departments, businesses, community organizations, faith-based groups, educational institutions, block clubs and other volunteers will clean up and clean out on the city’s Broadway corridor in its annual spring Blight Buster Day. This Saturday is also the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection & Green Awareness Day. Gary residents may dispose of items like medications, cleaning agents, paint, chemicals, medical needles, household batteries, carpet cleaner, fluorescent bulbs, shoe polish, pet supplies, etc.
The Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services (MOCS) has planned the City’s annual “Building Blocks” Blight Buster Day for the past three years looking for 1000 volunteers each year. Anyone interested in volunteering for this Saturday’s cleanup may still do so by calling the MOCS at 219-881-4815 or via email: [email protected]. While safety materials, garbage bags and gloves will be provided, volunteers may bring rakes, brooms and other supplies. Volunteers are asked to be at the Genesis Center, 1 Genesis Center Plaza at 7:30 a.m. for Registration and the Rally. The Media is invited.
The Spring Cleanup occurs annually the first Saturday in May. The Cleanup will cover Broadway from 3rd to 53rd Avenue targeting debris removal, grass cutting on vacant lots, public safety, board-up and demolition. D&R Construction, a blight buster partner, will demolish two (2) structures on Saturday. The Fall Blight Buster Day is held each year on the first Saturday in October. Location to be determined.
The City’s Department of Green Urbanism, the Gary Storm Water Management District and the Recycling Department partner with the Lake Michigan Districts Household Hazardous Waste Program and the Lake County Solid Waste Management District to host Household Hazardous Waste Collection & Green Awareness Day (HHW/Green) in the city of Gary. This year’s HHW/Green Day will be held congruent with the City’s Blight Buster Day on Saturday, May 6th. As chemicals are hazardous to our water, our land and our health, residents are urged not to throw chemicals out with regular household trash, flush down the toilet or drains.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be open from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at 455 Massachusetts Street; the Hudson-Campbell Parking Lots. Environmental Information Booths, Tire Disposal, Recycle Bins, Paper Shredding, Small Engine Gas Can Exchange, Refreshments and more are among the free services offered on HHW/Green Day.
Residents may volunteer to assist with the city’s cleanup effort while cleaning out and properly disposing of hazardous materials around their homes. Community groups can even collect old tires, computers, cell phones and other electronics for proper disposal. Please do not bring business, commercial or schools’ hazardous waste, explosives, medical waste, narcotic prescription drugs or radioactive materials.
For more information about HHW/Green Day, contact the Gary Department of Green Urbanism at 219-882-3000. For other volunteer opportunities in the city, please email [email protected]
