Staff report
The state of Vermont encourages folks to volunteer to pick up roadside litter in their communities.
The 49th annual Green Up Day will take place on Saturday, May 4, statewide. Always the first Saturday in May, this iconic event marks the coming of spring, community, and the cleaning up of Vermont’s roadways of litter.
Since 1970, Vermonters have taken to the roadways greening up 13,000 miles. In years past as many as 22,400 volunteers from over 240 communities have taken part in the largest, oldest statewide green up event in the country, according to a state news release.
Volunteers are needed in each town to help pick up roadside litter and are encouraged to get involved and do their part. Each town has a Green Up Volunteer Town Coordinator who is responsible for organizing the clean up, distributing the traditional Green Up bags and in many towns, celebrating community with barbecues, raffles, and music.
The inspiration behind Green Up Day dates back to 1969 when the then Burlington Free Press reporter Robert Babcock approached Governor Deane Davis about a statewide greening up day. On April 18, 1970, Governor Davis launched the first Green Up Day, marking the day with closing down the interstate while over 77,000 volunteers picked up litter on roads throughout the state.
To learn more on how you can get involved, visit greenupvermont.org, or see the listings by town in this edition.
