Spring is nearly here! As part of a broader community-wide effort to keep Chestnut Hill clean and green, volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to noon for our first annual Chestnut Hill Litter Cleanup. Register to participate by visiting chestnuthill.org. While advance registration is not required, it will help us coordinate street assignments ahead of time. We're hoping for a great turnout.

Volunteers will meet at Buckley Park (East Hartwell Lane and Germantown Avenue) at 9 a.m., then spread out across Chestnut Hill to pick up paper and other trash that have accumulated along Germantown Avenue and our residential sidewalks over the winter.

This effort is part of Philly Spring Cleanup. The city of Philadelphia will be providing bags, rakes and brooms. Volunteers should plan to bring gloves.

This isn't just a one-day effort. Chestnut Hill residents, business owners and visitors can help us keep our garden community beautiful every day by doing your part:

• Put out your trash and recycling after 7 p.m. and before 7 a.m. and take special care on windy days. If possible, bring in trash bins promptly and help our neighbors who might need help. This is especially requested of the businesses and residents on Germantown Avenue and along the unit blocks.
  
  
• Be aware of the holiday trash schedule one-day delays and plan accordingly. This information is always available on the phila.gov website.
  
  
• Break down and consolidate boxes and other items to speed up collection.
  
  
• Don't overfill garbage or recycling bins, especially on windy days.
  
  
• Cover your bins. Free recycling bins are available at city sanitation convenience centers and there are also programs for free trash bins through phila.gov.
  
  
• Look for and pick up any stray litter from the area in front of and around your property, especially after trash pickup. The same holds true when exiting and entering your car when parking in Chestnut Hill, or sending the kids off to school: ensure breakfast, snacks and other frequently dropped items stay off our residential and commercial areas.
  
  
• If you're doing work on your house or business, ask your contractors (e.g. landscapers, electricians, etc.) to bin or bring home their trash, including cigarette butts, takeout cups and bags, and food waste. This helps keep pets and wildlife safe, too!
  
  
• Pick up your animal's poop and bin it. Don't leave/toss or try to hide the poop or the bag along your route. If it's your pet, it's your poop!
  
  
• Don't litter, anywhere. As my mother used to say, "You pack it, you carry it." She meant luggage, but the same holds true for litter!
  
  

Thanks for your help to keep Chestnut Hill beautiful. We hope to see you on April 5!

Beth Wright

Cleanup organizer and coordinator 

The Chestnut Hill Train Station Native Gardens