55 cubic yards of litter picked up during 36th Annual Clean-Up Day
On Saturday, April 27th the City of Hayward celebrated Earth Day by hosting the 36th Annual Citywide Clean-Up and Community Fair at Weekes Park in South Hayward. Thanks to the contributions of nearly 200 volunteers, an estimated 40 cubic yards of trash and 15 cubic yards of recyclable material were collected throughout the morning. That’s a combined equivalent of 275 full garbage bags of litter estimated to have been removed from Hayward’s neighborhoods.
Volunteers from across Hayward arrived early Saturday morning to receive their designated clean-up location assignments and to collect gloves, grabbers, reflective vests, and trash bags. Within half an hour, Hayward City staff registered and equipped waves of California State University East Bay (CSUEB) students, Hayward families, and enthusiastic community members with the necessary tools to maximize the day’s beautification efforts.
As the last volunteers dispersed to begin their litter collection, Weekes Park was transformed into an Earth Day-themed community fair. Over a dozen booths were set up, staffed, and ready to offer food, entertainment, and information about best practices for leading sustainable lifestyles. Participants included Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, East Bay Community Energy, the City of Hayward Environmental Services Division, the City of Hayward Transportation Services Division, the Hayward Library, Keep Hayward Clean and Green, Mt. Eden High School’s Next Generation Nations, Chabot College, CSUEB Office of Sustainability, HD Supply, Waste Management of Alameda County, StopWaste, Friends of San Lorenzo Creek, Downtown Streets Team, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
As cleaning concluded, volunteers were welcomed back to Weekes Park by the savory smells of Tacos Uraupan’s Mexican lunch, inspiring art from Hayward’s 2019 Poster and Writing Contest, and a full range of knowledgeable East Bay environmental organizations. Well into the afternoon, Weekes park was bursting with talk of composting, renewable energy, biking, proper waste management, gardening, and endless other strategies to build community while protecting the environment.
Visit www.hayward-ca.gov/earth-day for more information about this year’s event, and updates regarding next year’s 37th Annual Citywide Clean-Up and Community Fair.
