Residents of Brookhaven are being encouraged to register for the 17th Annual Great Brookhaven Clean Up, as announced by Town Supervisor Dan Panico. The event, co-sponsored by the Town's Department of Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management and Keep America Beautiful, Inc., is scheduled for Saturday, May 17. It will take place at various locations throughout the town as part of a national initiative involving over 5 million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities across the United States.
Supervisor Panico emphasized the importance of this event, stating, “The Great Brookhaven Clean Up is one of our most popular and important events of the year. It is a good opportunity for people to remove trash and make a difference in their community. This event has been a great success thanks to the efforts of our residents and their dedication to keeping Brookhaven clean.”
The statistics on litter highlight both challenges and progress. A recent study found over 50 billion pieces of litter nationwide, equating to 152 pieces per American. However, there has been a significant reduction in roadside littering over the past decade, with a decrease of 54%. Last year saw more than 64,000 clean-up events across the country resulting in over 146,600 acres of parks and public spaces being cleaned.
Volunteers participating in the Great Brookhaven Clean Up will receive free gloves, trash bags, and t-shirts provided by the Town. These supplies can be collected from May 5 to May 17 at the Department's office on the third floor of Town Hall during regular business hours or during evening pick-ups on May 14 and May 15.
For those interested in joining this community effort to maintain cleanliness across Brookhaven’s public spaces, registration is available online. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Department at 631-451-TOWN (8696).