Beautifying West Milford

Residents may have noticed garbage bags and random items piled along the sides of roads throughout the Township last weekend.

That’s because the Township held its annual roadside cleanup day, and volunteers were hard at work picking up litter for proper disposal.

Individual volunteer members of the community, as well as local youth, church and civic groups, participated in the 2021 West Milford Township Beautification Day Event on Saturday, April 24.

The township-wide roadside litter clean up event is arranged by the WM Township Department of Public Works and is held annually each spring.

The WM DPW provides cleanup supplies to volunteers upon request (and while supplies last) such as: gloves, trash bags, etc.; and keeps track of specified cleanup areas throughout the township that are pre-arranged through the DPW by community volunteer groups and individuals.

‘Thank you’

Members of the WM DPW then travel around the Township picking up the filled trash and recycling bags the volunteers fill and leave at a visible roadside area of their cleanup sites for pickup, which is typically completed by the Monday immediately following the event. Residents are asked to call the WM DPW with the location of any cleanup bags that may have been missed during pickup, and they will come out to pick them up.

The West Milford Elks Club sponsored a free picnic at noon at Bubbling Springs Park for all cleanup volunteers. Hot dogs, snacks and drinks were provided.

West Milford Township Councilman Kevin Goodsir and volunteers from the Elks Club managed the grill.

West Milford Township Mayor Michele Dale extended a sincere “Thank you” to all of the Beautification Day Volunteers.

Dale announced that in addition to the volunteer work already done for the roadside cleanup day, beginning on Monday, April 26th, Passaic County officials will be in West Milford utilizing a crew from the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP). They will work to clean up roadside garbage along all County roads within the Township, until they are completed (weather-permitting).

Want to help?

Want to help restore West Milford to being a “Clean Community” again?

If you missed the Beautification Day event, but would still like to help clean up litter from West Milford’s beautiful, tree-lined roads, woodlands trails, ballparks, playgrounds, and lovely lake/beach areas - you can still help! Perhaps you can start out by picking up litter around your home neighborhood or local school. Collected garbage can then be taken home and disposed of with your home trash/ recycling on your scheduled weekly pickup day.

To set up a litter clean-up day or small group litter clean-up event at another area of town, and to pre-arrange for a roadside pickup of the collected garbage and recyclables, contact the WM DPW at 973-728-2850 to inquire about making such arrangements.