Mahoning County Unveils Winners

The Green Team is proud to announce the winners of the   second annual “Earth Day Billboard Contest.” This competition, which was open to students in grades four - eight,  resulted in four hundred seventy two entries being submitted from ten schools, with winning artwork selected for each grade level. Keeping the “Earth Day” theme in mind, students were advised to focus their messages on the 3 R’s, environmental beautification, and litter prevention. The names of the winners, their creative designs, and locations of the billboards are:

• Maria Stamos - Gr. 4
  Holy Family School 
  7859 South Ave. 
• Abigail Marks - Gr. 5
  Boardman Center Intrm.
  Market S/O W. Reserve Rd.
• Steven Yon - Gr. 6
  Lowellville Elem.
  RT. 170 & Calla Rd.
• Kate Averell - Gr. 7
  Austintown MS
  5623 Mahoning Ave.
• Vauni Carolyne - Gr. 8
  South Range MS
  RT. 46 & W. Reserve Rd.

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 22,  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 17, beginning at 7 pm, Stephanie Dyer, Environmental Program Manager for Eastgate COG, will be delivering a  presentation at Sebring Trinity Lutheran Church titled: “Keeping a Watershed Perspective About Water Quality.” Anyone interested in protecting our local watersheds, won’t want to miss this!  

On April 18, YSU will host an Earth Day celebration in The Cove 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..

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. 

Home-Safe-Home

Are you aware that Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year? It’s true. During its occupancy, the average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in the basement and the garage. This material, when improperly disposed of, can pose health risks for people and the environment. So, what can we do to combat this problem? The solution is simple. We can replace household hazardous waste with Earth-friendly alternatives. Below is a list of ideas to help you get started with this project.        

Instead of:  Drain Cleaner 
Use:   ½ cup of baking soda followed by ½ cup of white vinegar. Wait a minute then flush with boiling  water

Instead of: Glass Cleaner
Use: 1 part vinegar + 1 part water

Instead of: Air Freshener
Use:   1 part vinegar + 1 part water

Instead of: Furniture Polish:
Use:    1 part lemon juice to 2 parts mineral oil

Instead of: Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Use:    baking soda or a pumice stone for really tough rust stains

Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The Green Team is once again providing an opportunity for collecting household hazardous material. On Saturday, May 13, The Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be held at the Canfield Fairgrounds from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. The collection hours listed below are designated by last name:

    A-F 9:00 am-11:00 pm     G-N 11:00 am-1:00 pm          O-Z 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

The following HOUSEHOLD items will be accepted:

Thinners        Automotive Fluids        Pool Chemicals        Bleach    

Antifreeze    Used Motor Oil        Solvents            Poisons

Aerosol Cans    Propane Cylinders        Photo Chemicals        Stains        

Lighter Fluid    Adhesive/Glue        Wood Preservatives    Greases        

Roof Coatings    Car Batteries        Household Cleaners    Pesticides        

Varnish        Gasoline            Oil Based & Spray Paint (5 gallon limit)        

Insecticides    Herbicides        Cylinder fluorescent bulbs    Acids

Latex paint will not be accepted. Dispose of Latex paint by hardening with sand or kitty litter and placing with regular household waste. Also, please note that compact fluorescent light bulbs may be recycled at Home Depot or Lowes. If you have any questions regarding this special collection, please contact the Green Team. 

The Great American Cleanup

The Great American Cleanup is the country’s largest community improvement program that kicks off in more than 20,000 communities each spring.  This national program engages more than 5 million volunteers and participants who take action in their communities every year to create positive change and lasting impact. Did you know that individuals are much more likely to litter where littering already exists?  Let’s end this cycle together.     

Please consider becoming a part of the Great American Cleanup  and organize a “Clean Your Block Party” sharing in the responsibility to improve our communities. Preventing litter requires changing individual behavior.

If you would like to pick up litter in your community, please call the Green Team for supplies. In 2022 nearly 400 dedicated volunteers participated in community clean-ups and collected multiple bags of litter. Hopefully 2023 will be another successful year.

No Drugs Down The Drain

You can drop off unwanted prescriptions at the following permanent locations:

• Austintown PD
• Beaver Twp. PD
• Boardman PD
• Canfield PD
• Goshen Twp. PD
• Lowellville City Hall
• MC Sheriff’s Office
• Milton Twp. PD
• New Middletown PD
• Poland Gov’t. Center
• Sebring PD
• Springfield Twp. PD
• Struthers City Hall
• YSU PD

Please be aware that sharps and liquid medication are not accepted. 

For more information visit www.DrugFreeMahoningCounty.org

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.

APRIL 2023 Calendar

3 * Earth Day Program for Pocket Pets 4-H    

15 *Drop off material for Angels for Animals Garage Sale

16 *Drop off material for Angels for Animals Garage Sale

17 *Eastgate COG Program in Sebring    

19 *YSU Earth Day    

 21 *Angels for Animals Garage Sale begins
* Earth Day Celebration at Damascus Elem. School    

22 *Angels for Animals Garage Sale continues
     * Earth Day drawing at Sustaining Bliss

23*Angels for Animals Garage Sale ends

25 *Earth Day Celebration  at South Range Elem. School    

28 *Arbor Day   

MAY at a Glance
6 - DEA Drug Take-back Day
13 - HHW Collection @ Canfield Fairgrounds

 * For calendar updates, visit our website at www.greenteam.cc or follow us on Facebook 

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!

Environmental Quote

“Earth Day is commitment to make life better , not just bigger and faster; to provide real rather than rhetorical solutions. It is a day to re-examine the ethic of individual progress at mankind’s expense. It is a day to challenge the corporate and government leaders who promise change but who shortchange the necessary programs. It is a day for looking beyond tomorrow. April 22 seeks a future worth living. April 22 seeks a future.”

~ Environmental Teach-   
In Advertisement 
NY Times, 4-18-1970

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 enviromental 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.

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 Mill Creek MetroParks Earth Day Cleanup 

On April 22, more than 300 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 Kelley Beaty, Mill Creek Earth Day Cleanup Chairman for the Boy Scouts at [email protected]

Earth Day Activites 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/

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?  - Donate it to Mr. Darby's Antique Emporium
• 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.

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 3 years, Ginnetti has regularly encouraged people to throw wipes away and not flush them down 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

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