Annual NCA Cleanup Day Happening This Weekend

This time of year, a good spring cleaning is at the top of many people's list. So the annual Niwot Community Association (NCA) Cleanup Day is here just in time. The event takes place Saturday May 21st from 8:00 a.m. to noon or until the dumpsters are full. John Barto, NCA member and event organizer said that the event has been happening for more than 20 years. "Cleanup Day started as a couple dumpsters for trash and yard waste and a swap area. The event has grown every year since then with additional items added to the recycling list." All NCA members can participate for free and are allowed two free trash loads with a load considered a standard sized pickup at bed level. Membership in the NCA is $35 per year. Non-members will be charged $40 per load. Barto says you can even sign up for NCA membership at the event. "The Cleanup Day is definitely a benefit of NCA membership. But we certainly want people to be members for other reasons, too, including all of the communication the organization provides (about the community)." The rates for the service are, Barto says, very competitive with what you'd find at the dump or local big box stores. "The event provides a nice access point for the community to drop things off and save money too."

The event is completely volunteer run, engaging volunteers from many Niwot organizations including Niwot Scout Troops, Niwot High School Marching Band, Rotary, and the NCA. And volunteers are still needed at the event. "It's not that everybody who volunteers will be jumping in and out of dumpsters" Barto says. "We also have greeters, people who can hand out information on what is and isn't accepted and give guidance to what items go where." More information on volunteering can be found on the NCA website (link provided at the end of this story).

Each year, Barto says about 45,000 pounds of waste are collected, 60% of which is recyclable. The NCA partners with the Boulder County "Zero Waste Recycling Program" to engage recycling experts in handling the items that are collected at the event. "These experts are key in making the event a success" said Barto. "The electronics recycling company has been excellent to work with, helping us to know what is and isn't acceptable to recycle." In the past several years, the recyclers have even provided two people to assess incoming recycling, keeping the volunteers from having to try and determine what is and isn't recyclable. "We also accept trash" Barto says. "Once people have loaded everything into their vehicle, they really hate to leave with it. We have turned items away, but we don't like to do that if we don't have to. Some people bring these huge TV sets – the old tube kind. It's unbelievable to get them out of the car! People have even shown up with huge projection TV sets they are wanting to get rid of." The number of pallets and dumpsters needed for the event is largely determined by the environment. "Some years, if there was a big snowstorm in May, we'll see a lot of yard waste" Barto said. But by 3:00 the day of the event, all of the waste has been picked up and the parking lot is ready for use again. "We want to make sure everything is ready to go for the students as sometimes graduation is the week after Cleanup Day."

Items that can be dropped of include:

• Yard Waste

• Scrap Metal

• Water-based Paint

• Styrofoam

• Electronics **

• Mattresses & Box-springs **

• Trash

**extra fees may be involved

Items not accepted include:

• Household Garbage

• Cardboard, Glass, Aluminum Recycling - Please deposit in recycling bins on 79th St.

• Refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers

• Motorized Equipment with Gas or Oil

• Construction Debris (e.g. dry wall)

• Oil Based Paints

• Solvents

• Hazardous and/or Hard to Recycle Items

• Animal Waste

• Automobile Tires

• Batteries

• CFL/Fluorescent Tubes

• Waste from businesses – e.g. contractor trash

For more information on the annual NCA Cleanup Day, including a map of the entrance, flow and exit as well as volunteer opportunities can be found at https://niwot.org/2022-niwot-clean-up-day/.