Winter 2004 Edition     

Cleaning Up Fair Lawn By Ron Lottermann On October 25, 2003, the Fair Lawn Recycling Division held its bi-annual litter clean up day. Nearly 20 volunteers came out to help clean up litter and debris from the streets and parks of Fair Lawn.  In a few hours, the dump truck was filled up by the eager volunteers, shown here working on the Fair Lawn Avenue / Route 208 ramp.   In all, the volunteers collected approximately 500 pounds of litter and debris during the day. Litter is a major problem in the United States and Fair Lawn is no exception. During this litter clean up we concentrated on the Route 208 ramps at the Mobil Station / Plaza Road, the Ambulance Corps and Fair Lawn Avenue, and the woods at the dead end of Naugle Drive. The ramps were littered with debris from passing motorists. There were liquor bottles, fast food containers, cigarette butts and packages, styrofoam cups.  We found the most trash in the woods.  It appeared that most of the debris was dumped by kids  who hang out in the area.  There were bottles and cans, scrap pieces of metal and some fast food containers. Additionally we found debris that was illegally dumped. These items included metal, tires, bike parts, parts of an artificial Christmas tree, chairs and other miscellaneous debris. As a result of finding this illegal dump site, the Fair Lawn Police were informed so they may step up patrols to the area.  The Fair Lawn Recycling Division holds two litter clean up days per year as part of the requirements for the Annual Clean Communities Grant, distributed by the State of New Jersey. This grant also helps pay for repairs to the street sweeper, printing and distribution of educational materials, assemblies on litter prevention / effects at the schools, and other materials to help the Borough educate residents, enforce litter laws and clean up illegal dump sites and litter. For more information on the Borough's efforts in Clean Communities, please visit the Fair Lawn Clean Communities web site.  While the dates are not set for 2004 yet, they are anticipated to be held in the Spring and Fall and anyone is welcome to join us. Press releases asking for volunteers will be posted on Fair Lawn TV (channel 77), the Borough web site and the local papers. Please consider helping Fair Lawn look cleaner and brighter. If you cannot make the litter date, try some of these tips to help stop or clean up litter in your neighborhood: 1. Once per week walk your block and pick up any litter that you see.  2. Talk to your neighbors about the litter problem and ask them to help be a part of the solution.  3. Keep your garbage in containers with tight fitting lids to prevent animals from ripping the bags open.  4. On very windy days, do not put your recycling or garbage out for collection if you can avoid it. This will prevent the barrels and recycling from being blown around the streets.  5. Visit Keep America Beautiful for more information and educational materials.  6. As the Fair Lawn's Clean Communities Coordinator, Ron Lottermann, I am available to speak to your group or family. Groups include Neighborhood Block Watches, PTAs, Boy/Girl Scouts, clubs and organizations. Please call 201-794-5366 or e-mail: recycling@fairlawn.org to schedule a lecture.  7. If at any time there is a litter problem that you are not able to handle, please call the Recycling office at 201-794-5366.