Billboards will be on display April 3 - May 6.  

In addition to the artwork selected for billboards, other notable entries were received and will be featured on our Facebook page during Earth Week. This will give more people an opportunity to admire and appreciate the dedication and talent that was applied to this promotion. 
  The Green Team would like to thank everyone who participated in this exciting project. Through our efforts, we are making the world a better place.

Earth Day Events

Excitement abounds in the Valley as residents prepare to celebrate Earth Day.
 Beginning April 1 and ending April 23,  Sustaining Bliss will  be conducting a “Refill Not Landfill” campaign. During this promotion, residents who stop in the store for refills will be entered into a drawing to win Earth-friendly prizes. What a great idea!

On April 18, beginning at 7 pm, Jamey Emmert, Wildlife Communications Specialist for ODNR, will be delivering a  presentation at Sebring Trinity Lutheran Church titled:  Comeback Critters - Stories of Conservation Success. Anyone interested in protecting wildlife and the local environment, won’t want to miss this! 

On April 20, YSU will host an Earth Day celebration in the Chestnut Room at Kilcawley Center featuring displays provided by local environmental groups. Beginning at 10 am and ending at 3 pm, visitors may peruse exhibits and pick up educational material about a variety of  “green” programs. This event will truly have something for everyone. 

Learn to Compost with the Green Team

Did you know that over ¼ of the waste stream is composed of organic material that can easily be recycled? The process for recycling organics is called composting, and the Green Team is conducting a class to teach you all about it! On Sunday, May 15, the Green Team will host a compost seminar at Trinity Lutheran Church located at the corner of 12th St. and Pine Lake Rd. in Sebring. The session will begin at 1:00 pm and last approximately one hour. The cost for the seminar is $10.00 for Mahoning County residents and $40.00 for non-residents. The seminar will include a  training session with video instruction and open discussion. Registrants will receive a backyard compost bin, instructional booklet and trouble-shooting guide. If you would like to participate in this activity, please call the Green Team at 330.740.2060 and request a registration form. Preregistration is required.
                   ~ Kim Lewis

Attention Spring Planters

Nursery pots can be recycled at Bending Oak Permaculture Farm in Youngstown or
Rivers Bend Farm in Alliance. Nursery pots cannot be recycled in Green Team bins.

Swim into Summer Fun at the Library

Summer Reading Library Schedule June 2022

The Business of Recycling

The Green Team’s mission to divert material from local landfills involves many efforts and one that stands out and continues to grow is the “Business Paper Recycling Program.”  With paper- related products comprising approximately 25% of the solid waste stream, this is an obvious and easy way to reduce waste in the workplace. In addition to diverting this material from the landfill, recycling paper boasts a number of other conservation benefits. For example, did you know that for every ton of  paper recycled, you conserve 17 trees, cut pollution by 95% and save 7,000 gallons of water? As you can see, recycling paper is is truly worth the effort.

If your business is interested in the Green Team’s “Business Paper Recycling Program,” please contact us. We’re always eager to help businesses and the environment become a bit more “green.” 

Environmental Quote

“In nature, there is  no waste; everything is connected to everything else; everything must go someplace; and there is no such thing as a free lunch.”
 
~ Barry Commoner 

Home-Safe-Home

No Drugs Down the Drain

Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Great American Cleanup

12 Ways to Care for the Earth

1. Collect cans, glass, paper & plastic for recycling.
2. Pack a zero-waste lunch.
3. Plant a tree! Trees clean the air and provide wildlife habitat.
4. Save water. Take short showers.
5. Donate reusable items to charity.
6. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
7. Reduce waste. Shop with a reusable tote bag.
8. Save energy. Turn off lights when you leave a room.
9. Save marine life. Pick up litter at the beach.
10. Reduce plastic consumption. Use a travel mug and refillable water bottle.
11. Never litter.
12. Be a friend to the Earth. Make every day Earth Day.

Save the Rainforest with a Click

Help protect wildlife habitat by visiting The Rainforest Site and clicking on the green rectangle. This small gesture will cost you nothing  and will greatly benefit the environment. Visit https:therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clicktogive/trs/home
and get started today!

April 2022

Scholarship Opportunity

The Ohio Association of Litter Prevention and Recycling Professionals (OALPRP) is offering a $1,000.00 scholarship to a deserving student from Ohio. To qualify for the scholarship, a student must:

• Plan to enroll or currently be enrolled at an accredited Ohio college, university, or technical school.
• Have declared or plan to declare a major relating to environmental sciences or environmental education.
• Reside in Ohio.

OALPRP scholarship forms may be downloaded at www.oalprp.org or obtained by contacting the Green Team at 330-740-2060. Deadline for submission is April 15, 2021.
 
Completed forms can be e-mailed to Scholarship Chair Jim Jerek at [email protected]  or sent by USPS to OALPRP Scholarship c/o Mahoning County SWMD 345 Oak Hill Ave. , Suite 330, Youngstown, OH 44502. Forms sent by postal mail should be postmarked by April 15. 

Any questions or assistance regarding scholarship applications may be directed to Kim Lewis, Nicholas DeMart, or Jim Jerek at the Green Team.

40th Annual 
Millcreek MetroParks Earth Day Cleanup

On April 23, more than 150 scouts and volunteers are expected to scour Mill Creek MetroParks in recognition of Earth Day to remove a buildup of litter and debris. However, even with this type of turnout expected, more helping hands are always appreciated. If you would like to participate in this activity, contact Mike Kupec, 
 Mill Creek Earth Day Cleanup Chairman for the Boy Scouts at [email protected] 

What On Earth Can You Do With:

• Lids from Pringles cans?- donate them to the Green Team Education Department
•  Plastic grocery bags? - recycle them at a retail outlet
•  Empty gift cards? - mail them to the Green Team
• Motor oil? - recycle it at an auto parts store
• Leftover latex paint? - harden it with kitty litter and place in house-hold trash
• Packaging material? - contact a UPS or FedEx Store
• CFL’s?  - recycle at Home Depot or Lowe’s
• An old American flag?  - retire it at the Veterans Service Commission
• Ink jet cartridges? - contact Staples or Empties 4 Cash
• Household batteries? - recycle them at any MC Library
• Eyeglasses?- contact a local Lions Club
• Other unique material? - Call the Green Team at 330.740.2060 for options.  

Earth Day Activities Online

Visit the following websites for Earth Day games and activities you can enjoy with your children.

1. www.lifewire.com/free-online-earth-day-games-1356768
2. www.legendsoflearning.com/earth-day-games/
3. www.crazy4computers.net/earth-day.html
4. www.primarygames.com/holidays/earth_day/earthday
5. www.plt.org/educator-tips/earth-day-activities/

A Word About Wipes

Baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, personal hygiene wipes, wet wipes, flushable wipes. These products have become increasingly popular in the war against COVID-19, but consumers need to realize that it is dangerous to flush these products down the toilet. Flushing a wipe is just like flushing a piece of cloth. It clogs sewer systems, damages equipment and may lead to basements flooding. According to information posted by Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti, Mahoning County has 40,000 customers in the sanitary sewer system. During the past 2 years, Ginnetti has regularly encouraged people to throw wipes away and not flush them in the toilet. This simply makes sense.

If you’re using any type of wipe, please act responsibly and throw it away. Wipes flushed down the toilet will only lead to problems. 

Contamination Concerns

In an effort to reduce contamination, Republic Services is continuing to distribute “OOPS” tags to curbside customers as part of an ongoing educational campaign. If you would like more information call us at 330.740.2060.

For further information about recycling and other  solid waste management programs, visit our website at 
www.greenteam.cc    
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