Oxford Students Participate in Town-Wide Cleanup

Information comes from Susan Purcella Gibbons: 

Oxford's Town Wide Cleanup effort is an annual event and students at Great Oak Middle School have always played a big part in its success. This year was no exception. 

On April 10, 26 students from the school's enrichment program and student council contributed their time and efforts to keep the school grounds clean and attractive by picking up litter. (See photos attached) 

What is Oxford's Town Wide Cleanup?   

April is town wide cleanup month in Oxford. It is a way for citizens to do their part to keep Oxford clean and attractive. Oxford's Town Wide Cleanup is celebrated annually as a way to protect our flora and fauna and make Oxford a beautiful place to live. April is a great time to do a cleanup because there is little ground cover, no poison ivy, and it coincides with Earth Day, April 22nd. Also, people inherently get the urge to “spring clean” their yards and surroundings as soon as it is warm enough to work outside.  

What attitudes and habits do people have when it comes to littering?  

Most people are environmentally conscious and would never consider littering. They may even make cleaning other people’s garbage part of their regular routine when they are fishing, walking around the neighborhood, or hiking in the woods. Unfortunately, some people are unaware of a link between littering and the environment; they see it as someone else’s problem and don’t understand that the negative impacts can go well beyond aesthetics. Animals such as birds and fish ingest toxic waste because they mistake it for food. People and animals can get cut by broken glass and metal, or come into contact with improperly disposed hazardous materials.  

What causes people to litter in the first place?

• Litter has already accumulated so people add to it [“broken window” theory]
• Out of sight, out of mind [throwing garbage down a steep bank, in the middle of the woods, or where there are no houses in plain view]
• Lack of social pressure to do the right thing
• Inadequate penalties & enforcement
• No disposal containers at or near the site
• Feeling no sense of pride in the areas they are littering
• Disposed items not considered litter, as with cigarette butts

What can we do to help?

All people are encouraged to help by promising not to litter, to always put garbage and recyclables in their proper receptacles, and participating in a cleanup. Individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, clubs, neighborhoods and families can participate in Oxford's Town Wide Cleanup, organized by the Oxford Conservation Commission Inland Wetlands Agency. Pledge forms have been distributed throughout the school district and are also available at the Oxford Town Hall, the town library, and the town website. All pledge forms received by May 3^rd are entered into a drawing for prizes. 

Note: The Saturday hours at at the Oxford Public Works Department will be extended until 5 p.m. on April 20 and April 27 to accomodate participants in the town wide cleanup. It is usually open from 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

See pledge form attached to get involved.