Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 3, 1994 TAG: 9404040161
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-21 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BECKY HEPLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Montgomery County's annual cleanup, Broomin' and Bloomin', is targeting the biggies of illegal litter this year - abandoned tires and appliances.
The community project, which involves hundreds of volunteers each year cleaning miles of roadside and illegal dumps, is set for April 16, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
"They're the two most common things found in an illegal dump," said Dawn French, environmental coordinator and organizing force behind the cleanup. In the past, the only thing that could be done with these items was to put them into the landfill, taking up valuable space and contributing to groundwater pollution.
This year, however, offers more options. Montgomery County will be recycling appliances this year for the first time. In addition, the county will be able to use the Appalachian Regional Recycling Commission's tire shredder to reduce the bulk of collected tires. The commission is actively seeking a market for the shredded product.
"If we find a market, that makes our efforts even more productive," French said. "But even if we don't, we'll be using less landfill space."
The abundance of tires and appliances in illegal dumps points out the need for more full-service recycling centers, French said. "I think people don't want to pay a tipping fee, but if there's a place where they could take their appliances or tires, they wouldn't dump them illegally," she said.
The cleanup effort will focus on twelve illegal dump sites. Riner Road, Big Branch Road, Broad Shoals Road, Caboose Road, Coles Road, Seneca Hollow Road, Spaulding Road, Poverty Creek Road, Mount Pleasant and Yellow Sulpher Road all have ugly places that will receive the attention of the workers.
French said she has called on a wide variety of businesses and community organizations to recruit volunteers and equipment. While the final count will come on Saturday, she said the response to her queries have been very positive.
One of the yearly goals is to try to top the previous year's efforts. Last year, 3,354 volunteers picked up 284,000 pounds of litter. The county recycled 4,780 pounds of that.
The volunteers cleaned 120 miles of roadside, 12 river bank sites, 10 public land areas, 13 school sites and six illegal sites. They also planted 1,500 tree seedlings to promote reforestation.
While this year's ice storms have contributed to the messy appearance around the valley, French said that Broomin' and Bloomin' will leave that chore to the landowners. "There's enough of the other litter that we need to clean up," she said.
by CNB