Inside this issue

Compost Seminar
Nursery Pot Re-cycling
Summer Reading
Trash Bash
Home-Safe-Home
Medication Info.
HHW Collection
Litter Clean-ups
RiverFest
Calendar of Events
Scholarship Info
CityScape News
Recycling Site Up-date

Earth Day 2018: End Plastic Pollution

In response to the overwhelming problems that plastic pollution causes for our environment, the Earth Day Network has chosen to highlight this issue by calling on the public to reduce its overuse of plastic and to opt for eco-friendly substitutions instead.
According to the Earth Day Network website, “From poisoning and injuring marine life to disrupting human hormones, from littering our beaches and landscapes to clogging our waste streams and landfills, the exponential growth of plastics is now threatening the survival of our planet.” In other words, the time for change is now!
What kind of changes can help reduce plastic consumption? The following list offers some simple strategies.

Shop with a reusable tote bag. If just 25% of US families used 10 fewer plastic bags a month, we would save over 2.5 billion bags a year.
Use a refillable water bottle. Bottled water produces 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.
Skip the straw. Over 500 million plastic straws are used each day in the US. If you just can’t live without straws, invest in a reusable one that you can carry with you.
Use a travel mug for coffee. An estimated 50 billion coffee cups are discarded in the US each year.
Say “no” to take-out Styrofoam food containers. Carry your own containers with you for restaurant leftovers or have your server wrap your food in aluminum foil that can be recycled later.
Pack a zero-waste lunch. Opt for reusable containers and refillable bottles instead of disposable bags and single-use beverage containers.

Earth Day Events

Excitement abounds in the Valley as residents prepare to celebrate Earth Day.
On April 18, YSU will host an Earth Day celebration at Andrews Recreation Center featuring displays provided by local environmental groups. Between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, visitors may pick up educational material about a variety of “green” programs.
On April 21, two events are scheduled. The US Army Corps of Engineers at Berlin Lake will host an activity between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm that will include community volunteers picking up litter and planting trees. Between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, the Sebring Parks Dept. will host an Earth Day Bash that will include a variety of eco-friendly activities for children and adults.
On April 22, the Village Pharmacy in New Middletown will host its 2nd annual Earth Day Celebration between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm. This event will include Earth-friendly make and takes, drawings, and zero-waste refreshments.

Learn to Compost with the Green Team

Did you know that nearly 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, April 29, 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

Recycle Rocks!

Hey kids! Rock out with us at Mahoning County Libraries during the 2018 summer reading program. This year we’ll be reading a Sesame Street book titled From Trash to Treasure, by Liza Alexander. With each turn of the page, you’ll be entertained by colorful Sesame Street characters whose Earth-friendly activities encourage environmental stewardship. From Bert and Ernie’s paper drive, to Oscar’s Tin Can Grouch Band, this book will inspire you to apply the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to all aspects of your daily life.
After reading the story, we’ll create musical instruments from recovered material which we’ll play as we perform the ever-popular “Recycle Rap.”
This program is recommended for children in grades Pre-K through 3. Refer to the library schedule at left for the location nearest you.
~ Kim Lewis

A Magical Experience

This year’s Trash Bash Fashion Show at Damascus Elementary School promises to be a magical experience. Held in conjunction with the school’s “Right to Read” week, all of the books , activities and fashions will be based on a Disney theme.
Festivities will kick off on May 10 with an all-school assembly that previews the week ahead. During the week of May 14, an assortment of books, games, and activities will be presented throughout the school to celebrate reading in true “Disney” style. On May 18, as part of the grand finale, student council will present the “Trash Bash” Fashion Show which will feature Disney designs created and modeled by students, along with a detailed narrative of the materials recovered and the process used to make each fashion.
Turning trash into a magical Disney delight. What could be better than that?

Attention Spring Planter

Nursery pots can be recycled at
Rivers Bend Farm in Alliance or at any Lowe’s.

Summer Reading Library Schedule June 2018

13 Poland 2 pm

11 West 11 am

18 Springfield 11 am

19 East 11 am

19 Tri-Lakes 11 am

20 Boardman 10 am

21 Greenford 2 pm

25 Austintown 10 am

28 Sebring 10 am

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. At right 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: small dish of lemon juice, baking soda, or essential oils

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 19, 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.

No Drugs Down the Drain

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

Austintown PD
Beaver Twp. PD
Boardman PD
New Middletown PD
Poland Gov’t. Center
YSU PD

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

For more information visit www.greenteam.cc

Environmental Quote

“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”
~ Baba Dioum

WKBN 27 Caring for Our Community

Volunteer for 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.
Join the GREEN TEAM by calling 330-740-2060 to help keep Mahoning County a vibrant community in which to work and live. In 2017 over 1500 dedicated volunteers cleaned up communities and collected 12.6 tons of litter.

Celebrate Riverfest

On Saturday, June 2, “The Friends of the Mahoning River” will host the 67th Annual RiverFest at the B & O Station in Youngstown. This event, which is free and open to the public, will offer an exciting array of activities and environmental exhibits for every age group. Children will enjoy making crafts, playing games, and bouncing around in the inflatables. Adults will enjoy perusing environmental displays and learning about the history and ecology of the area. Of course, everyone will enjoy spending a day at the river and gazing at the wonders of nature. In addition to these activities, Trumbull Canoe Trails will provide kayak and canoe rides for those with an adventurous spirit and Artists Of The Rust Belt will host an art show in the B & O Building.
Hope to see you at the RiverFest on June 2. For more information visit friendsofthemahoningriver.org

Shredding Event

Shepherd of the Valley is hosting a shredding event on Saturday, May 5, from 9:00 am until noon. The event is free and open to the public, but some restrictions may apply. Shepherd of the Valley is located at 301 W. Western Reserve Rd. in Poland. For more information, call Shepherd of the Valley at 330.726.7110 or visit the Green Team website at www.greenteam.cc

April, May and June at a glance

APRIL
9 - Zero-waste Community Dinner @ Sebring St. Ann Church
18 - YSU Earth Day
20 - Angels for Animals Garage Sale begins

21 - Earth Day Celebration @ Berlin Lake
- Earth Day Bash @ Sebring Community Center

22 - Village Pharmacy Celebration
- Angels for Animals Garage Sale ends
28 - DEA Drug Take-back Day

29 - Spring Compost Seminar / Earth Day @ Trinity Lutheran Church

MAY

5 - Struthers City Appliance Drive & E-Drive

- Shepherd of the Valley Shredding Event

12 - Goshen Twp. Appliance Drive

- Green Youngstown Appliance Drive, E-Drive & Tire Drive

19 - HHW Collection @ Canfield Fairgrounds

- Green Yo. / ODOT / Green Team Litter Clean-up

JUNE

2 - Mahoning RiverFest

9 - New Middletown Shredding Event

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

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, 2018.
Completed forms can be e-mailed to Scholarship Chair Katrina Carpenter at [email protected]
or sent by USPS to OALPRP Scholarship c/o Perry County Waste Reduction & Recycling, PO Box 621, New Lexington, OH 43764. Forms sent by postal mail should be postmarked by April 15.
Any questions or assistance regarding scholarship applications may be directed to Peg Flynn or Kim Lewis at the Green Team.

Rethink Your Drink

Congratulations to Boardman High School and Jackson Milton Elementary School for receiving grants from Delta Dental that allowed them to acquire water bottle refill stations and refillable water bottles for each student. These efforts will greatly reduce the amount of single - use plastic water bottles that enter the waste stream and lead to a healthier environment for everyone.

Streetscape Planting Day - June 2, 2018

Please become a “super hero volunteer” and share your time and talents for CityScape’s 21st annual Streetscape event on Saturday, June 2, 2018, beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by an appreciation lunch. (The rain date is June 3rd.)
Volunteers will meet in the tent on Central Square. Please bring some gloves and extra planting tools from home. There will be free t-shirts for the first 500 “super hero volunteers” registered—sorry, no capes on the t-shirts.
Streetscape makes a powerful impact on Youngstown’s downtown, the gateways, urban parks and neighborhoods enhancing the entire community. With your help we can clean up litter and weeds and plant flowers, shrubs, and trees.
There was a time when the downtown had vacant store fronts, no public green space and few restaurants making it difficult to attract visitors or businesses. The Downtown Revitalization Committee whose initial focus was improving the look of downtown Youngstown’s Central Square evolved in to what is now known as Youngtown CityScape.
Don’t be misled by thinking that the downtown is not part of your community; it reflects directly on the visual perception of all of Mahoning County. Just think of the numerous visitors at Youngstown State University, the Covelli Centre with its many events as well as Stambaugh Auditorium, and the Butler and Arms Museums.
Other CityScape projects and events include the Wick Park Improvement Project, the Beautification Awards, Sparkle Youngtown Campaign, Downtown Volunteer Workdays, Grass Roots Gala, and the “Swing, Scramble and Shake” Golf Outing.
CityScape is strong today because of its supporters and partners who remain committed to the vision of a revitalized core. You can become involved or donate by calling 330-742-4040 or by visiting youngstowncityscape.com.

Contamination Concerns

In spite of our best efforts, people continue to put plastic bags in our bins. Plastic bags contaminate the loads and create problems for sorting facilities. Please remember to “keep it loose” and deposit your recyclables - minus the bags. As always, The Mahoning County Green Team is committed to serving the recycling and waste reduction needs of the public.

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