Cleanup helps 'make a better Reno'

Bags of trash, old clothes, bicycles and beat up couches.

These were among some of the items gathered and brought to a parking lot just north of the Lawlor Events Center on Saturday as part of the Reno Clean & Green program.

University of Nevada, Reno students, local volunteers and city employees all took part in the program, designed to clean up neighborhoods and parks.

"This is our big spring cleanup," said Kitty Jung, a liaison for the old Northwest Neighborhood advisory board. "It's also a time for citizens to throw away garbage for free so it doesn't end up in the desert. It's a push for people to have a chance to clean up."

The advisory board's Ward 5 helped by donating $1,000 for breakfast, lunch, T-shirts and prizes. This went to 200 UNR students who helped clean up the neighborhood.

The neighborhoods were separated in two sections: Valley Road to Keystone Avenue and McCarran Boulevard to U.S. 395.

"We're very impressed by the outcome, especially with the young people," said Chris Good, the city's interim community relations director. "We've had a great turnout, and it's a chance for the students to meet their neighbors, clean their neighborhood and recycle stuff."

Cairn Lindloff is the coordinator of Greek life and a leadership adviser at UNR.

"Our goal is to serve our community," Lindloff said. "The students live in this area, and it's a good way to contribute to their neighborhoods."

Prizes, including $100 gift certificates, were given out in various categories, including the most amount of trash collected.

Courtney Law, 20, of Pi Beta Phi sorority and Olivia Cheung, 19, of Delta Delta Delta sorority were among the judges.

"We've had over 200 bags of garbage ... ," Law said. "That's not including the old mattresses, couches and other supplies we've received."

Many strange yet recyclable objects lay around the judges including old bikes, lawn flamingos, and lamp shades.

The most bizarre object and the potential winner for most obscure piece of trash was an enormous satellite dish that one group of students found lying on a street corner.

“The satellite is going to win first place,” said Cheung giggling at the oddity. “It’s completely random and so funny what we have found here today.”

Many residents participated as well. And local organizations were at the campus to collect some of the unwanted trash.

ComputerCorps is using old electronic equipment and recycling the items for those in need.

A volunteer group is making use of the building equipment and furniture. Tires Plus gathered tires to fix up and recycle while Kiwanis Club is refurnishing bicycles for needy children.

"We do this yearly (cleanup) together for our city, but anybody can do it at anytime of the year," Law said.

Michelle Anderson is a project leader for Reno Clean & Green. She encourages Reno locals to keep on cleaning throughout the year.

"If everyone does a bit to help and clean up our city, it just makes a better Reno," she said.

Photos by

Scott Sady/Reno Gazette-Journal

2nd photo: Mario Gomez, reflected in broken mirror, unloads trash from Pedro Martinez's truck during the community-wide Spring Reno Clean and Green program. Neighborhood disposal sites will again be set up on April 28 for the community to bring their house hold trash.