Pick It Up – Toss No Mas to hold Community Cleanup

Join the anti-litter program Pick it Up – Toss No Mas for a community-wide cleanup on Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 9 am-noon.

Meet the Pick It Up – Toss No Mas team in the Gough Park parking lot at 9 am on Saturday, February 18th , and pick up supplies, including trash bags, gloves, trash pickers, snacks, and free t-shirts. Return to Gough Park between 11 am and noon to drop off trash and recyclables and record the cleanup results that will qualify you for prizes.

This month, volunteers are needed for litter collection along the San Vicente Creek Trail, focusing on cleaning up trash and debris at the site of the River Stewardship Stream Restoration Project. Afterwards, volunteers will get a brief overview of the restoration work to improve water quality and wildlife habitat and reduce riparian fire risk. The project is being carried out by Gila Resources Information Project, Stream Dynamics, Gila WoodNet, and Lone Mountain Natives.

Thanks to the New Mexico Department of Transportation for hauling the collected trash to the landfill. Recyclables will be collected and recycled with Silver City Recycles or the High Desert Humane Society.

Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Because children under 12 are not permitted on state highways for the cleanup, families with younger children are encouraged to clean up litter in their neighborhoods, local parks, or waterways. Check out the new Pick It Up-Toss No Mas website www.silvercitytossnomas.org to sign up to volunteer and to learn about litter prevention opportunities, the business pledge program, Adopt-A-Roadway or Waterway program, and solid waste disposal and recycling resources.

Volunteers are the foundation of the Pick It Up – Toss No Mas program. Since October 2021, over 400 volunteers have dedicated more than 921 volunteer hours to the anti-litter program. Volunteers have picked up 9,537 pounds of trash, debris, and recyclables from Highways 180 and 90, Silver City neighborhoods, Big Ditch Park, and San Vicente Creek. Thanks to all of the volunteers, organizations, and partners who attended our Volunteer Appreciation Day in January. We were honored to recognize some outstanding volunteers who made a significant contribution to the program over the past year.

Monthly Pick It Up – Toss No Mas clean-up events are held on the third Saturday of every month. Community members can also adopt a roadway or waterway to take care of and clean up throughout the year. Alternatively, you can organize your own cleanup, and Pick It Up – Toss No Mas can supply the trash pickers, trash bags, and gloves for your event.

Pick It Up – Toss No Mas community cleanup events are partially funded by a grant from New Mexico Clean and Beautiful and are sponsored by the Town of Silver City, Silver City Watershed Keepers, Silver City Recycles, Silver City MainStreet, SWNMACT, Southwest Solid WasteAuthority, Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce, and New Mexico Department ofTransportation’s Toss No Mas Program.

More information for the event can be found at silvercitytossnomas.org or contact Candice Baca, Program Coordinator at 575-538-8078 or via email at [email protected]