Take Action

                        Celebrate Earth Day with us!
                           Saturday, April 18, 2009 
                                   Details to follow

Volunteers Needed:  OCS is making a substantial difference in the quality of life in New Bedford...but we still need your help!

Please consider volunteering on our committee.

Many people volunteer with Operation Clean Sweep because they actually enjoy picking up trash and the feeling of accomplishment that it brings.  I am one of them.
But we also know that we do not want to pick up other people’s trash forever.  We want people to change their behaviors so that they will dispose of their trash responsibly, reducing the amount of waste that is harmful to not only our neighborhoods but to our environment as a whole.

Please, take a moment to read about our programs below and decide if you can help us in any way.  You may have a desire to educate, you may have an expertise to share or you may simply loathe litter.  Whatever the case and however you decide to help, this may be the right opportunity for you to make a difference.

     • School Education about litter and recycling will continue through the winter months. 

     • Our Public Education campaign will continue with more “Trash Tips” - ideas developed to help educate New Bedford’s community on how to dispose of their trash responsibly and properly.

     • Our Business Outreach program will continue to grow with businesses “Adopting” areas.   

     • OCS Supports classrooms, neighborhood associations and businesses as they organize their own neighborhood cleanups.  

     • Advocacy for enforcement of our litter laws remains another very important component of Operation Clean Sweep

     • Operation Clean Sweep will continue to participate in community events in an effort to promote the OCS mission and gain support.

How you can help: 
  1. Attend a meeting
     •  Join as a committee member
     •  Help us reach our goals
  2. Participate in outreach events
     •  To promote the importance of litter prevention stewardship
     •  To educate our community
     •  To share the messages of Operation Clean Sweep
     •  To make a difference
  3. Support our programs 
     •  Volunteer
     •  Monetary donations
     •  In – Kind Donations

For more information about how you can help support our programs please email info@operationcleansweep.net 

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                      Watch for Trash Tips on Cable Access

                                     Trash Tip #1
                           Put your trash in a barrel
 
  This keeps your trash IN the barrel instead of your neighborhood!

Tips on keeping your neighborhood clean
     New Bedford can be a rainy, windy city.  So even when you don't go to the beach your trash does.  It gets carried by wind and rain into the storm drains and much of it ends up in the ocean...the Acushnet River, Clarks Cove...our beaches!  What can YOU do about it...
Dispose of your trash responsibly. 
     Put trash out on your designated trash day in tied trash bags, place it in a barrel, then Put a lid on it! 
This will keep trash in the barrel, out of your neighborhood
and out of our waterways.  NOT putting trash in a barrel can also result in animals and rodents breaking into bags dispersing trash all over the streets and sidewalks wherer you live.

Clean up Your Little Part of the World
     If you see trash, pick it up!  Dispose of it in the nearest receptacle, even if that means carrying it with you for a few steps.
     Organize your own neighborhood cleanup.  Just ask a few neighbors to pitch in.  You'll feel good about yourselves.
     Adopt-An-Area Simply decide to keep an area clean.    Set some guidelines for yourself and maintain that area on a regular basis.  
New City Trash Barrels
If you haven't heard, then maybe you've seen the new trash barrels throughout New Bedford.  The new receptacles were purchased with revenue from recycling.  200 barrels are being placed strategically around the city in high pedestrian areas and business districts.  And the good news is People are using the trash barrels!  Many thanks to those who dispose of their trash properly and recycle.

Solar Powered Trash Receptacles
The city of New Bedford received a grant for three solar trash receptacles.  These are state of the art and hold much more trash than a standard trash barrel.  The use of solar panels is part of New Bedford's effort to be a "greener" city.  When the receptacle gets to a certain level, it compacts the trash using solar power, leaving room for more.  Keep an eye out for these state of the art trash receptacles.  You'll find one at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, one in Riverside Park and one downtown New Bedford.
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Recycle More New Bedford!
     Recycle all of your newspapers, magazines,
plastic bags, cardboard boxes, telephone books, glass bottles, tin cans, and plastic containers #'s 1-7 and junk mail.

For a free recycling bin and more information call 508.979.1493.

Just Do It! 
     It's not rocket science, just good sense.   

                                          And of course...Please Don't Litter!