THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603190121
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Norfolk should be a little tidier by May 5.
Starting March 30, the 11th annual Glad Bag-A-Thon comes to the city.
In 1995, more than 10,000 volunteers collected nearly 100,000 pounds of litter, 6,000 pounds of recyclables and 30 bags of used clothing for charity.
The program, designed to improve the urban environment and teach citizens proper waste-handling practices, enlists volunteers from civic leagues, schools, businesses, service clubs and families. Participants receive collection bags and other tools in their fight against waste. Targeted areas include public streets, parking lots, shopping centers, schools, parks and vacant lots.
Norfolk is one of nearly 100 cities nationwide taking part in the drive. The local event is sponsored by the Norfolk Environmental Commission in cooperation with the First Brands Corporation, maker of Glad Wrap and Bags, and the Keep America Beautiful organization.
``It's America's largest organized cleanup,'' said John Deuel, executive coordinator for the Norfolk Environmental Commission. ``We're improving the quality of life in Norfolk.''
The hands-on spring cleaning is a big job, but not all of it is work. At the kickoff ceremony, which is 12:30 p.m. March 30 at Nauticus, volunteer group leaders will be treated to refreshments and free coupons to see the movie ``The Living Sea.'' Group leaders also will be given collection bags, safety guidelines, hats and posters.
The first seven elementary schools to register for the Bag-A-Thon will have a recycling receptacle put at their school for two days and will qualify for a cash award if they collect more than 2,000 pounds of recyclables.
On April 20, there will be a citywide pickup/relay, with teams bagging litter from designated routes. At 3 p.m., volunteers will meet at the Virginia Zoo for complimentary admission and a party.
Since 1986, some five million Bag-A-Thon volunteers nationwide have collected more than 130 million pounds of litter, 13 million pounds of recyclables and 178 thousand bags of clothes.
Joining the program from its inception, Norfolk's cleanup has grown steadily. At least 10,000 participants are anticipated again this year. The 1995 collection figures are expected to be broken by the drive's completion May 5. MEMO: To volunteer or for more information, call the Norfolk Environmental
Commission at 664-4611. by CNB