COLUMBUS, Ind. — Earth Day has traditionally attracted a lot of your neighbors to the Columbus/Bartholomew County Recycling Center.
Globally speaking, the 51st annual observance April 22 will include a variety of activities in more than 190 countries that range from promoting a healthy environment to warnings against climate change.
In Columbus, the observance is best known for allowing local residents engaged in spring cleaning to get ride of hard-to-dispose items.
Saving money has always been an incentive for the public to participate in the amnesty program, which will be held this year on Saturday, April 24th. Between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., the recycling center at 720 S. Mapleton St. will accept the following items without charge:
- Up to two refrigerant-containing appliances
- Two gas grill propane tanks
- Four personal vehicle tires without rims. Tractor tires are not accepted.
If you have papers that need disposal, document shredding will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, all services on this day are being offered to residents, rather than businesses. The sponsor of the document shredding, Toyota Material Handling, will also provide free river birch seedlings.
From 8 a.m. until noon, those in attendance can also get one pick-up sized scoop of mulch or compost loaded for free.
For a complete list of what is and is not accepted, go to bcswmd.com and click on ‘recycling.
Other observances
Earth Day activities also take place in a number of schools. First graders at CSA Fodrea were given a demonstration Tuesday on how to naturally improve soil for their own garden outside the school at 2775 Illinois Ave.
In addition, elementary and secondary school students have been encouraged to enter an Earth Day Poster and Art Contest, with the entry deadline set for April 16. More details are available online at bcswmd.com.
On April 22, the Bartholomew County Parks and Recreation Department will join forces with Purdue Extension Bartholomew County to kick off a new project that will eventually result in pollinator plantings in all county parks this year.
Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 22, the public is invited to help make preparations for an upcoming flower bed planting at the Clifford Alumni Park. Unlike the town park, this county park is located at the site of the old Clifford Elementary School off County Road 500N, just east of County Road 350E.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
