Polishing Warwick

Operation Clean Sweep begins Saturday, April 20, and runs through April 28. Residents throughout the town are encouraged to register their road for clean-up with the Warwick Chamber of Commerce and then get out there and pick up the litter that has accumulated over the past year.
Free bags and gloves are available through April 28 from the chamber, which is located at the caboose on South Street. Then get out there and clean up your road.
When completed, tie up the filled trash bags and leave them at the nearest intersection.
The Town of Warwick Department of Public Works will pick them up on Monday, April 29. Tipping fees at the county transfer station are waived for the Operation Clean Sweep event.
Operation Clean Sweep has been happening in Warwick since 1990. It had been a weekend event for 27 years. Then last year it was extended to a full week.
“Not everyone registers their roads so we don’t have an accurate count of the number of people volunteering,” said Bea Arner, assistant office manager for the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We noticed we had a better turn out last year when we extended the event out over a week.”
Arner said the chamber works with the schools to help rally the troops, encouraging Boy and Girl Scout troops, athletic teams and other groups to pitch in and clean up the town.
Partners
The Chamber partners with Warwick Cadette Girl Scout Elizabeth Verboys to put together this Operation Clean Sweep annual event. Elizabeth is a student at Warwick Valley Middle School. The event was passed down to her last year by Julia Vargas.
Other recycling events
On Saturday, April 27, there will be various groups hosting events to make recycling easier for residents.
• Shredding event. The Warwick Lions will be in the Chase Bank parking lot on South Street to shred documents; Suggested donation is $5 per box. Stop by between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• Recycle eyeglasses and hearing aids. The Warwick Lions will collect all eyeglasses and hearing aids.
• Drug drop. The Warwick Coalition joins forces with the Warwick Police Department to collect unused and expired prescription drugs from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Recycle motor oil. Leo Kaytes Ford will accept old oil at their location on Route 94 next to ShopRite
• Electronics recycling. The Computer Guy, located at 2 Overlook Drive, will accept certain electronics.
• Cell phone collection. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence will collect used cell phones from 9 a.m. to noon.
Mark the date
On Saturday morning, April 27, stop by the Chamber of Commerce Office at the caboose on South Street between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to register your road, if you haven’t done so already, and have some free refreshments. Receive free gloves and trash bags. If you plan to do your clean-up work earlier than April 27, call or stop by the caboose anytime to register and to receive the gloves and bags.
Call the Chamber at 845-986-2720 to register your road.
For more information, go to www.warwickcc.org.
- Linda Smith Hancharick