BURRILLVILLE – The Burrillville Earth Day Committee has cancelled all events originally scheduled to take place locally as a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event.
The town-wide cleanup will not take place on Saturday, April 25.
Instead, the committee is recommending that residents keep the date in mind, and honor it at home as a way to maintain safety and social distancing.
Parks and Recreation Director Andrea Hall noted that while cleaning up town streets is normally a priority, people should be cautioned not to pick up trash that could be contaminated. Those inclined to take part in clean ups are advised to limit activities to their own yard, or to perform home-based projects instead to honor the day.
The committee hopes to reschedule the annual cleanup in the fall, contingent on guidance from state government as Rhode Island works to curb the COVID 19 pandemic.
Below is a list of environmentally-friendly things Burrillville residents can do at home.
- Start composting: Do your part to keep food scraps and other household waste out of landfills. For ways to get started visit https://www.nrdc.org/issues/
food-waste - Turn off the lights: Keep climate change in mind and do your part to save energy. Turn off any appliances or lighting not in use and be conscious of energy use in your home.
- Plant a sustainable garden: Home gardens not only can cut down on trips to the market, they can also help to protect the earth by eliminating pesticides, as well as fuels used in transport. For tips and practices visit https://www.planetnatural.com/
sustainable-gardening/ - Re-evaluate use of fertilizers and pesticides: The use of fertilizers and pesticides has led to the problem of air, water and soil pollution. Most fertilizers and pesticides are manufactured with chemicals that can hurt human health. For tips on creating a pesticide-free yard visit https://www.slcdocs.com/
slcgreen/Pesticide%20Free% 20SLC%20Guide_web.pdf - Consider an energy audit: Save money on energy costs and cut down your family’s use. Both National Grid and Pascoag Utility District offer their customers free home assessments. For National Grid customers visit https://www.nationalgridus.
com/RI-Home/Energy-Saving- Programs/Home-Checkups- Weatherization PUD customers visit https://www.pud-ri.org/ residential/home-energy-audits
A second Earth Day event, at which the committee had planned to bury a time capsule on the grounds of the Assembly Theatre has also been cancelled. This, also, will be rescheduled for fall, if circumstances permit.
Burrillville’s annual Earth Day celebration is organized each year through a coordinated effort between the Burrillville Lions, the Department of Public Works, the Burrillville Conservation Commission, Waste Management, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful and Dunkin Donuts.
This year, the Burrillville Land Trust also participated in planning for the 50th anniversary event. That organization has instead planned a series of free, virtual events. Click below to learn more.
