Los Alamos County Environmental Services Manager Angela Gurule accepts a proclamation from Los Alamos County Councilor Antonio Maggiore declaring Saturday ‘Clean Up Los Alamos County Day’ during Tuesday evening’s County Council Meeting. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

A proclamation declaring Saturday, May 11  as “Clean Up Los Alamos Day” in Los Alamos County was issued by Los Alamos County Councilors Tuesday evening and accepted by Angelica Gurule, the County’s Environmental Services Manager.

Gurule told the Council that during the event last year Environmental Services served 150 people at the Eco Station for free tipping and that volunteers collected about 1,000 lbs of trash in the community.

“This year we have 100 people signed up to participate in 15 different groups. Then we’ll have a volunteer appreciation lunch at Ashley Pond at noon on Saturday. We also participated in Earth Day. Here at the County we have a Green Team and we taught our employees how to recycle,” Gurule said. She added that the Earth Day Celebration at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center was a zero waste event and that 80 percent of all the trash generated was diverted.

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS: Communities nationwide celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd, with activities and educational opportunities to encourage residents to renew their commitment to preserving our valuable resources here on Earth; and

WHEREAS: At home and in school, parents and teachers educated children about the benefits of protecting our resources and the importance of caring for our environment; and

WHEREAS: At work, Los Alamos County’s Green Team educated employees about how to recycle at work; employees pledged to pack a zero waste lunch; and

WHEREAS: Los Alamos County, Los Alamos National Bank, Metzger’s Do it Best and Coca-Cola will sponsor the 16th annual “Clean Up Los Alamos Day” on Saturday, May 11th  for volunteers to clean up neighborhoods, parks and businesses; and

WHEREAS: “Clean Up Los Alamos Day” will improve the appearance of our community by engaging residents and asking them to take personal responsibility for their community and environment; the County will provide residents with free tipping disposal at the Eco Station; and

WHEREAS: When we participate in activities such as “Clean Up Los Alamos Day,” we set a good example for our children, showing them we care about protecting our land and open spaces, which in turn strengthens our economy and improves our environment;

NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby designate Saturday, May 11th as “CLEAN UP LOS ALAMOS DAY” and urge our community, organizations and businesses to participate; and FURTHERMORE, I ask our residents to re-dedicate themselves to finding ways to protect and preserve our environment, such as packing a zero waste lunch, reusing and recycling materials.